Detroit, Michigan, USA
1895 - Detroit

Detroit, de-troit', the metropolis of Michigan and seat of justice for Wayne co, is a port of entry very favorably situated at the head of that stream and the foot of Lake St. Clair, opposite Windsor, Walkerville, and Sandwich, in Canada, with a river front of about 9 miles and a total site of 30 square miles. Lat. of city hall, 42°19'51" N.; lon. 83° 2'54.6" W. The river, "the Dardanelles of the New World," is here half a mile to 3 miles wide, has no freshets, and makes an admirable harbor. There is ample steamer and other vessel service; 12 rail Ways, most of them trunk-lines, converge upon 3 union depots, and the city has an extensive system of tram-ways, partly equipped with electric motors. Its site is rather flat, but has good drainage and one of the finest water-services in the world. Electric lights are used upon tall towers, giving superb views from lake or land as the city is approached by night. The fire department includes about 20 steam- and chemical machines, and an alarm-telegraph, with a paid force of 300 men. The metropolitan police number about 400, with full apparatus of telephones, signal-boxes, patrol wagons, &c. Public schools occupy over 50 large buildings, and there is an unusual number of private and parochial schools, including the Detroit (Catholic) College, 2 colleges of medicine, and a law school. Streets are wide, partly on picturesque European plans, and superbly set with trees, and a handsomely improved boulevard surrounds the major part. Belle Isle, "the beautiful islet," is a noble park, and there are many smaller public spaces in the city. Fort Wayne is a four-company garrisoned post at the southwest corner. The city is well built, largely of stone and brick, and mostly in separate homes, with no swarming tenement houses. Among public structures are a costly new government building, a fine city hall set with statues, a public library containing 100,000 volumes, sufficient market and other municipal edifices, a soldiers' monument designed by Randolph Rogers, a fountain given by the late Governor Bagley, 3 opera-houses, and a number of creditable hotels. The later and some older church buildings are noble examples of architecture. About 150 church societies and missions are organized, and Catholic, Episcopal, and Meth dist-Episcopal bishops reside here. Public, denominational, and private charities abound. A board of trade, chamber of commerce, and numerous exchange: have been formed. There are 15 state, 8 national, and several private banks, and 7 daily, 2 semi-weekly, 38 weekly, 6 semi-monthly, 20 monthly, 1 bi-monthly, and 3 quarterly periodicals. Commerce is enormous, and a greater tonnage passes annually than by any other port on the globe. Industries are exceedingly diversified, and bring large revenues. Much wealth is also still derived from the lumber business of the interior and the mines of the Upper Peninsula. Total valuation for taxation in 1892, $184,229,130; tax-rate, 16.63 mills. The death-rate rarely reaches 20 per 1000 of population. The site of Detroit was part of New France. It was settled as a trading and fortified post by Cadillac in 1701, became British in 1763, American in 1796, British again in 1812, and finally American in 1813. It is older than St. Petersburg, Philadelphia, or Baltimore, and has an interesting history and historic surrounding. It was the capital of Michigan Territory, and for a time of the state. Pop. in 1810, 770; in 1820, 1442; in 1830, 2222; in 1840, 9102; in 1850, 21,019; in 1860, 45,019; in 1870, 79,577; in 1880, 116,340; in 1884, 132,956; in 1890, 205,876; in 1892 (estimated), 260,000.

Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

Visit Detroit, Michigan, USA
Discover the people who lived there, the places they visited and the stories they shared.