|blank1_name Geographic Names Information System feature ID |blank1_info 0635224lt;/ref> |website http://www.pontiac.mi.us |footnotes }} Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa (tribe) Chief Pontiac As of the United States 2000 Census the city had a total population of 66,337. It is the county seat of Oakland County, Michigan GR|6}}. Considered a satellite city of Detroit it is surrounded by affluent Metro Detroit suburbs. The city is best-known for its General Motors Corporation manufacturing plants (GMs primary truck plant was formerly in Pontiac) and the GM automobile brand, Pontiac which was first produced in and named after the city. Also of note is the Pontiac Silverdome the stadium that hosted the Detroit Lions from 1975 until 2002 when they moved back to Downtown Detroit. On February 20, 2009 the State of Michigan placed the city into receivership lt;ref>http://www.wwj.com/pages/3915462.php? State Puts Pontiac In Receivership], WWJ Newsradio 950, published 25 February 2009 10:27AM, and the Department of Treasury appointed Fred Leeb the citys emergency financial manager in March 2009.http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/090319_pontiac_takeover Financial Manager Appointed for Pontiac], WJBK Fox 2 Detroit, published 19 Mar 2009, 5:52 PM EDT

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 20.2 square miles (52.3 km²), of which, 20.0 square miles (51.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.09%) is water. The city is bounded by the City of Auburn Hills, Michigan to the east and north, the City of Lake Angelus, Michigan to the north, Waterford Township, Michigan to the west, and Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan to the south. The defunct civil township which was known as Pontiac Township, Michigan initially included what are now the cities of Pontiac, Lake Angelus, and Auburn Hills. The township incorporated as the City of Auburn Hills in 1983. Although the township no longer exists as a civil entity, it is still used as a survey township for land use purposes.

Demographics

File:Pontiac MI.jpg As of the census GR|2}} of 2000, there were 66,337 people, 24,234 households, and 15,267 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,318.2 per square mile (1,281.3/km²). There were 26,336 housing units at an average density of 1,317.3/sq mi (508.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 39.09% White (U.S. Census) 47.92% African American (U.S. Census) 0.58% Native American (U.S. Census) 2.40% Asian (U.S. Census) 0.04% Pacific Islander (U.S. Census) 6.47% from Race (United States Census) and 3.50% from two or more races. Hispanic (U.S. Census) or Latino (U.S. Census) of any race were 12.76% of the population. There were 24,234 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.5% were Marriage living together, 25.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.32. In the city the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,207, and the median income for a family was $36,391. Males had a median income of $31,961 versus $24,765 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,842. About 18.0% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Residents are zoned to the School District of the City of Pontiac The district runs one main high school, Pontiac High School The other main high school, Pontiac Central High School closed in 2009.http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2008/12/17/news/local_news/doc4948cde5991a8809807968.txt In recent years, many residents of southern Pontiac have begun sending their kids to Bloomfield Hills Schools and Waterford Schools causing a notable swell in the number of children attending those high schools. The district currently serves to about 6200 students. There are four charter schools in Pontiac which offer a school choice to residents of Pontiac and the surrounding cities. The four charter schools are: Pontiac Academy for Excellence (K-12), Arts and Technology Academy, Walton Charter, and Great Lakes Academy. * http://www.nuwayschools.com/Pontiac.asp Nu-Way Truck Driver Training Centers]

History

Early expeditions into the land north of Detroit described the area as having "extreme sterility and barrenness." Developments and exploration were soon to prove that report false. The first settlers arrived in what is now the city of Pontiac in 1818. Two years later there were enough people there to form a village named after the famous Indian Chief who had made his headquarters in the area only a few years before. Pontiac was Michigans first inland settlement. The village was officially recognized by the state legislature in 1837 and it incorporated as a city in 1861. From the beginning, Pontiacs central location served it well. It attracted professional people, including doctors and lawyers, and soon also became a center of industry. The city became the location of choice for woolen and grist mills which made use of the Clinton River as a power source. With the coming of the railroad through the downtown area in 1844, Pontiacs progress and success were assured. Abundant natural resources led to the establishment of several carriage manufacturing companies, all of which were thriving at the turn of the century when the first self-propelled vehicles were introduced. Pontiac quickly became a capital of the new automotive industry. As the small, "horseless carriage" manufacturers became consolidated under the mantle of the General Motors Corporation, Pontiac grew as the industry grew, suffering the same setback as other cities during depression years of the 1930s. In the boom years following World War II, Pontiac was at the forefront of growth in affluent Oakland County. In the 60s and 70s came urban renewal in an attempt to revitalize the downtown area. In 1970s, construction began on the "Pontiac Plan." This plan included the Phoenix Center, two office buildings and a high rise residential complex. The "Pontiac Plan" was a vision of Pontiac business owner C. Don Davidson. While the city joined many others in experiencing a slowdown of retail business in the downtown area in the 60s and 70s, a renewed spirit of optimism has taken over as Pontiac moves forward in the new century.

Culture

Regionally, the city is known for the http://www.artsbeatseats.com Arts, Beats and Eats Festival], a widely attended summer festival featuring an art show, musical concert venues (including The Crofoot , and a sampling of food from numerous regional restaurants. The city is at the north end of the famous Woodward Avenue known in the 1950s and 1960s as being popular with young people who would "cruise" and drag-race their hot rod in the area. Pontiac participates in the annual Woodward Dream Cruise an event celebrating Woodwards hot-rod history, stretching from Pontiac to Detroit. The city is also host to 2 of the nations renowned Haunted Houses: The Realm of Darkness and Erebus. The Realm of Darkness has in previous years been chosen as Americas Best Haunted House. Erebus currently holds the world record for "Largest Haunted House" at 4 stories high. Pontiac is one of the cities in Michigan being used to film the 2010 remake of the film [[Red Dawn (2010 film)|Red Dawn]] recreating Spokane, Washington Pontiac is home to the Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorialhttp://www.michiganfallenheroesmemorial.com/contact.html Pontiac is home to Coraline Jones and her parents in the film adaptation of Coraline (film)

Transportation

Amtrak the national passenger rail system, operates its Michigan Services from Pontiac to Chicago via Detroit, Michigan and Battle Creek, Michigan Michigan Service is three times daily, both arriving and departing. regional rail service was once provided by Grand Trunk Western Railroad (GTW) and later Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA) from Pontiac to downtown Detroit, Michigan This service ended on October 17, 1983, after subsidies were discontinued. Efforts continue to this day to restore such commuter service. Class one freight rail service is provided by Canadian National Railway (CN), which also operates a large classification yard in Pontiac serving the local auto industry. Oakland County International Airport services the city and surrounding areas with commuter air service. Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) operates local and regional bus transit. The major thoroughfares in the city are: Woodward Avenue (M-1 (Michigan highway) , Huron Street (M-59 (Michigan highway) , and Telegraph Road (U.S. Route 24 . Portions of Woodward Avenue were once known as "Saginaw Street" and "Wide Track Drive" (the portion of Saginaw Street that runs through the downtown business district remains under that name). | class"wikitable" style"width:80%" |- | width"5%" | Image:I-75.svg lt;/center> || Interstate 75 provides a quick connection northwest to nearby Flint, Michigan Detroit, Michigan is to the south. |- | width"5%" | Image:Business Loop 75.svg lt;/center> || Interstate 75 Business (Pontiac, Michigan) routes through Pontiac. |- | width"5%" | Image:US 24.svg lt;/center> || U.S. Route 24 ends north of Pontiac in at I-75. Southbound, US 24 serves suburban Detroit and Monroe, Michigan before crossing into Ohio |- | Image:Business plate.svg lt;br />Image:US 24.svg lt;/center> || U.S. Route 24 Business (Pontiac, Michigan) serves local business traffic through the city. |- | width"5%" | Image:M-1.svg lt;/center> || M-1 (Michigan highway) (Woodward Ave.) northbound ends in Pontiac. Southbound, the highway routes to directly to downtown Detroit. |- | width"5%" | Image:M-24.svg lt;/center> || M-24 (Michigan highway) (Lapeer Road) southbound ends in Auburn Hills at I-75. Northbound, the highway routes to Lapeer, Michigan Note: M-24 does not intersect with US 24. |- |width"5%" | Image:M-59.svg lt;/center> || M-59 (Michigan highway) routes west to Howell, Michigan and east to Utica, Michigan and several other Detroit suburbs. |}

Government

* State officials ** List of Governors of Michigan Jennifer Granholm Democratic Party (United States) ** Michigan State Senate Mike Bishop (Michigan politician) Republican Party (United States) - 12th State Senate District - current Senate Majority Leader ** Michigan State House of Representatives Tim Melton Democratic Party (United States) - 29th State House District * Federal officials ** United States Senate Carl Levin Democratic Party (United States) ** United States Senate Debbie Stabenow Democratic Party (United States) ** United States House of Representatives Gary Peters (Michigan politician) Democratic Party (United States) - Michigan's 9th congressional district

See also

* :Category:Images of Metro Detroit * The Crofoot building in Pontiac * Saginaw Trail * Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic

References

External links

* http://www.pontiac.mi.us Official City Website] * http://www.pontiac.mi.us/history/index.htm History of the City] * PONTIAC MASTER PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY http://www.pontiac.mi.us/pdf/masterplanexecutivesummary.pdf] Category:Populated places established in 1818 Category:Cities in Michigan Category:County seats in Michigan Category:Pontiac, Michigan Category:Oakland County, Michigan ca:Pontiac (Michigan) da:Pontiac (Michigan) de:Pontiac (Michigan) es:Pontiac (Míchigan) fr:Pontiac (Michigan) hr:Pontiac, Michigan ia:Pontiac, Michigan it:Pontiac (Michigan) sw:Pontiac, Michigan lmo:Pontiac, Michigan nl:Pontiac (Michigan) no:Pontiac (Michigan) pl:Pontiac (Michigan) pt:Pontiac (Michigan) ro:Pontiac, Michigan sv:Pontiac, Michigan vo:Pontiac (Michigan)