Detroit is the largest city in Michigan and is also the seat of Wayne County. In 2007, census determined that the city has a population of over 900,000 individuals making it one of the largest cities in the United States. Incorporated as a city in 1806, Detroit is one of the wealthier cities in the United States. Nicknames for the city include: D-Town, The Motor City, Motown, Rocky City, and The D. Its official motto is 'Speramus Meliora, Resurget Cineribus' (We Hope for Better Things - literally: It Shall Rise from the Ashes).

The city's economy is largely based on several industries including professional and business services, information technology, education, health, manufacturing, tourism, and finance. Detroit and the surrounding region are home to the Big Three automobile companies composed of Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors. There are also about 4,000 factories in and around the city of Detroit.

Several professional sports team make their home in Detroit. These teams include NBA's Detroit Pistons, NFL's Detroit Lions, MLB's Detroit Tigers, and the WNBA's Detroit Shock. It is also the home of the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings. In 1996, a marketing campaign for the hockey team promoted the nickname: 'Hockey Town' for Detroit.