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Businesses
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Heritage through our Ancestors
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Restaurants Sports Local HistorySee also Pontiac's Rebellion The site of a succession of Indian villages, their recorded names including Yondotiga, Waweatunong, Tsychsardonia and Teuchsa Grondie. The present city was founded in July 1701 by Antoine de La Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac, named after the French word for strait (detroit) from its location on the river connecting Lakes Erie and St. Clair. Among the early French settlers, these later had (and still have) streets named for them, such as Beaubien, Rivard, Dequindre, Chene, Dubois and Joseph Campau. The settlement was first called Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit after Jerome Phelypeaux, Count de Pontchartrain who, as minister of marine decided Cadillac's proposal for the settlement. Shortened to Detroit in 1751, a British possession, 1763-1783 when the U.S. gained jurisdiction (but did not occupy it until 1796). Frederick Bates became its first postmaster on January 1, 1803 (the first post office in Michigan). Incorporated as a town on January 17, 1802 and as a city on October 24, 1815. First platted in 1806 by Augustus B. Woodward, after whom its main thoroughfare, Woodward Avenue was named. The Territorial capital from 1805-1837 and the State Capital from 1837 to 1847. Map of the City of Detroit, 1798
Plan of Detroit by Augustus B. Woodward (Photo)
Informational excerpts from Michigan Place Names, by Walter Romig, L.H.D.
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