The Motorcity Detroit. Decline and Future Chances

Research Paper (Pre-University) from the year 2013 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Demographics, Urban Management, Planning, grade: 12 Punkte, , language: English, abstract: The Manufacturing Belt is the oldest industrial zone of the USA. It extends over the big lakes from Chicago via Boston and Washington D.C. to New York. The industrialization began with the cotton mill, later the heavy industry arrived. Iron, coal, steel and since 1856 also oil has been produced in Pennsylvania.
At the beginning of the 20th century the western area developed into the centre of the food industry, mainly it the cities of Chicago and Milwaukee. Detroit evolved to the center of the automobile industry and basically in Pittsburgh the mainly steel industry was located.

One reason for the growth of this industrial complex was the strong immigration from Europe which led to the availability of new manpower and created a big market area. Furthermore the infrastructure was well developed because of the railway and the big towns like Chicago and Baltimore were well connected by the waterways. Moreover, the area was and still is abound in raw materials like iron ore, wood and coal and can cover its power demand by itself through numerous energy sources like the water power.