DETROIT
In the early to mid-20th century, Detroit was a booming industrial city, primarily due to the automotive industry.
Over the next few decades the decentralization of the auto andustry and Race Riots led to Detroit’s economic decline with white flight & population decline.
With the shrinking tax base and declining population, Detroit struggled to maintain its infrastructure and provide basic services to its residents.
Due to the continued economic decline and the accumulation of debt, the City of Detroit filed for bankruptcy in 2013. It was the largest municipal bankruptcy filing in U.S. history by debt, estimated at $18–20 billion.
Post-bankruptcy, there have been concerted efforts to rejuvenate Detroit: Downtown Development, Innovation & Startups and Urban Farming: Due to many vacant lots, some residents and organizations have turned to urban farming to make use of the land productively. While parts of Detroit are seeing revitalization, many neighborhoods are still struggling with blight, unemployment, and social challenges.
