Part 7/12:
No discussion of U.S. urban decline is complete without Detroit. Once the fourth-largest city in America with 1.8 million residents in 1950, economic shifts, automation, segregation, and white flight caused a massive exodus. Now, Detroit’s population is roughly 639,000, a decrease of over 65%.
The decline included factory closures, fraying civic infrastructure, and crime. Recently, however, Detroit has seen signs of resurgence. New investments, downtown revitalization, and cultural projects like the return of professional sports teams signal hope. Still, pockets of deep urban decay remain.