Detroit

City of Wayne co., Mich., on Detroit R., between Lakes St. Clair and Erie. It is regularly laid out, and supplied with water by pumping from the river. It is a center for 8 railroads, and has a very extensive commerce and large manufactures. Much of the iron and copper mined on the Upper Peninsula is smelted here. The site was visited by the French 1610, and settled by them 1701 as Fort Ponchartrain. It pa ed to the control of the British 1763, to that of the U. S. 1796, was given up to the British in 1813, but recovered 1814; chartered as a city 1824; State capital 1837-47. Pop., 1890, 205,876.