Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city located in Oakland County, Michigan. It is the county seat of Oakland County6. Considered a "satellite city" of Detroit, it is surrounded by affluent metro-Detroit suburbs. Although in the midst of these suburbs, Pontiac itself is an urban center with a significant manufacturing sector.
The city is probably best known for the prominent General Motors manufacturing plants, and the GM automobile make, Pontiac, which was first produced in (and named after) the city.
Also of note in the city is the Pontiac Silverdome, the stadium in which the Detroit Lions played until 2002.
Regionally, the city is known for the the Arts, Beats and Eats Festival, a widely attended summer festival featuring an art show, musical concert venues, and a sampling of food from numerous regional restaurants.
The city is at the north end of the famous Woodward Avenue, known in the 1950's and 60's as being popular with young people who would "cruise" and drag-race their hot-rods in the area. Pontiac participates in the annual Woodward Dream Cruise, an annual event celebrating Woodward's hot-rod history, streching from Pontiac to Detroit.
The city of Pontiac has an official web site: [1]. A history of the city is available on the site.
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 66,337.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 52.3 km² (20.2 mi²). 51.8 km² (20.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.09% water.
The city is bounded by the City of Auburn Hills to the east and north, the Village of Lake Angelus to the north, Waterford Township to the west, and Bloomfield Township to the south.
The survey township Pontiac occupies also includes the City of Auburn Hills, which was known as Pontiac Township before incorporating into a city.
The major thoroughfares in the city are: Woodward Avenue (state route 1, or M-1), state route 59 ("M-59", or Huron Street), and Telegraph Road (U.S. 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).
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 66,337 people, 24,234 households, and 15,267 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,281.3/km² (3,318.2/mi²). There are 26,336 housing units at an average density of 508.7/km² (1,317.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 39.09% White, 47.92% African American, 0.58% Native American, 2.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.47% from other races, and 3.50% from two or more races. 12.76% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 24,234 households out of which 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.5% are married couples living together, 25.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% are non-families. 29.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.68 and the average family size is 3.32.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $31,207, and the median income for a family is $36,391. Males have a median income of $31,961 versus $24,765 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,842. 22.1% of the population and 18.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 29.3% are under the age of 18 and 15.7% are 65 or older.
