Pontiac, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pontiac, Michigan
City
Downtown Pontiac
Seal
Nickname(s):  The Yak, Yaktown
Location within Oakland County
Pontiac, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Pontiac, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Oakland
Settled	1818
Incorporated	1837 (village) 1861 (city)
Named for	Pontiac
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• Total	20.25 sq mi (52.46 km2)
• Land	19.89 sq mi (51.50 km2)
• Water	0.37 sq mi (0.95 km2)
Elevation	922 ft (281 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	61,606
• Density	3,098.11/sq mi (1,196.16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	48302 (Bloomfield Hills) 48320 (Keego Harbor) 48321, 48326 (Auburn Hills) 48340–48343
Area codes	248 and 947
FIPS code	26-65440
GNIS feature ID	0635224

Pontiac is a city in Oakland County, Michigan, in the United States. It is the main city of Oakland County. Pontiac is about 26 miles (42 km) northwest of downtown Detroit. It is part of the larger Detroit area. In 2020, about 61,606 people lived in Pontiac.

The city was started in 1818. It was one of the first European-American settlements in Michigan near Detroit. Pontiac was named after Chief Pontiac, a famous leader of the Ottawa Tribe. He lived in the area before European settlers arrived.

Pontiac became well-known for its General Motors car factories in the 1900s. These factories were very important to the city's economy. They made GMC trucks and the famous Pontiac cars. The Pontiac car brand was named after the city. General Motors stopped making Pontiac cars in 2010.

In 1975, the city built the Pontiac Silverdome. This was a large stadium where the Detroit Lions football team played until 2001. Super Bowl XVI was held there in 1982. The Silverdome was used for concerts and events until it was taken down in 2018. Now, an Amazon warehouse stands on its site.

History of Pontiac

The Pontiac State Hospital, around 1912

Buckland Memorial Chapel at Oak Hill Cemetery

For thousands of years, Native American people traveled through what is now Pontiac, Michigan. They used the Saginaw Trail and the Nottawassippi River. The river's name was later changed to the Clinton River by settlers. The Saginaw Trail was a key path from Saginaw Bay to the Detroit River.

The first European-American settlers came to Pontiac in 1818. They followed the Saginaw Trail from Detroit. They chose this spot because the trail and river met here. Two years later, Pontiac became the county seat for Oakland County. This happened because a group called The Pontiac Company wanted their land to be the county seat.

The Pontiac Company had 15 members. Solomon Sibley of Detroit was their leader. Solomon and his wife, Sarah Sibley, helped pay for the first buildings. Sarah Sibley was very active in helping the new settlers. The Sibley-Hoyt house is believed to be one of Pontiac's first buildings.

In the 1820s, Elizabeth Denison, a free Black woman, worked for the Sibleys. They helped her buy land in Pontiac in 1825. She was likely the first Black woman to buy land in Michigan Territory.

In 1837, Pontiac became a village. This was the same year Michigan became a state. The town was named after the famous Ottawa Indian war chief, Pontiac. He had lived in the area many years before. Pontiac was Michigan's first settlement that was not on a major lake. Rivers were important for travel, water, and power.

The village became a city in 1861. Pontiac's central location helped it grow. Many professionals, like doctors and lawyers, moved there. It quickly became a center for industry. Mills used the Clinton River for power to make wool and grind grain.

Pontiac had many natural resources. This led to several companies making carriages. By the early 1900s, these companies were doing very well. One large company, O.J. Beaudette Wagon Works, started making bodies for cars. Soon, Pontiac became a major city for the new car industry.

In the 1910s and 1920s, Pontiac grew a lot. Thousands of people moved there to work in the GM car factories. Many African Americans came from the South during the Great Migration. They sought jobs, education, and freedom from unfair laws.

Houses in the Fairgrove Avenue Historic District

As small car makers joined General Motors, Pontiac grew with the industry. But it also faced hard times during the Great Depression in the 1930s. During World War II, the car industry switched to making war supplies. Pontiac became a key place for wartime production. Its factories made GMC trucks, anti-aircraft guns, torpedoes, and other military items.

After World War II, Pontiac had a good period. More African Americans moved to the city. But the city changed as suburbs grew. People moved to new homes outside the city. This caused businesses in downtown Pontiac to struggle.

In 1963, Pontiac put the Clinton River into concrete in the downtown area to prevent floods. Now, the city is thinking about uncovering the river. This would create a new waterfront area.

In 1969, Pontiac decided to rebuild its downtown area. This plan was called the "Pontiac Plan." In 1965, a professor named C. Don Davidson heard the Detroit Lions football team needed a new stadium. He and city leaders worked to build a new stadium.

The Pontiac Silverdome in 2006

Construction on the Silverdome began in 1972. It opened in 1975. It became the home stadium for the Detroit Lions. It also hosted the Detroit Pistons basketball team and the Michigan Panthers football team. The Silverdome held big events like the 1979 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl XVI in 1982, and four matches of the 1994 World Cup.

In 1968, a flu-like sickness called Pontiac fever broke out. Years later, scientists found the same germ that causes Legionnaires' disease was behind it.

In the 1970s, the "Pontiac Plan" started. It included the Phoenix Center, office buildings, and homes. But the rest of the plan was not finished. Since 1980, Pontiac's population has gone down. This is because many jobs, especially in the car industry, were lost.

City Management Changes

From 2009 to 2013, the state government appointed special managers for Pontiac. These managers made important decisions to help the city's money problems. They changed worker contracts and sold city property. For example, the city sold its water plant for $55 million. The police services are now handled by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. Fire protection is handled by Waterford Township.

These changes helped the city save a lot of money. Pontiac's yearly spending went from $57 million down to $36 million. The city also paid off most of its long-term debt. The Silverdome stadium, once worth $22 million, was sold for only $583,000. It was later taken down.

In 2010, city leaders started "The Rise of The Phoenix" plan. This plan aimed to bring new businesses to downtown Pontiac. They offered free rent and parking to new businesses. This helped bring 52 new businesses to the city.

In 2012, a big project started to fix up the old Sears building. It became the Lafayette Place Lofts. This was the largest building project in downtown Pontiac in about 30 years. It has apartments, a grocery store, and a fitness center.

Geography of Pontiac

Pontiac covers about 20.29 square miles (52.55 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The city is next to Auburn Hills to the east and north. Lake Angelus is to the north. Waterford Township is to the west. Bloomfield Township is to the south.

The area that used to be Pontiac Township now includes Pontiac, Lake Angelus, and Auburn Hills.

Population Changes

In 2020, Pontiac had 61,606 people. The city's population has changed over time. It grew a lot in the early 1900s because of the car industry.

In 2010, there were 59,515 people living in Pontiac. About 34.4% of residents were White, and 52.1% were African American. About 16.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. The average age in the city was 33.4 years old.

Culture and Fun

Franklin Boulevard Historic District

Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District

Pontiac used to host the Arts, Beats and Eats Festival. This popular summer festival had art, music, and food. In 2010, the festival moved to Royal Oak.

The city is at the northern end of Woodward Avenue. This famous road goes all the way to Detroit. In the 1950s and 1960s, young people loved to "cruise" and race their hot-rods on Woodward Avenue. Pontiac takes part in the yearly Woodward Dream Cruise. This event celebrates the road's history with a parade of classic cars.

Pontiac has two well-known haunted houses: The Realm of Darkness and Erebus. Erebus was once the world's "Largest Haunted House."

Pontiac has also been a place for making movies. The Motown Motion Picture Studios are located here. Parts of the movies Red Dawn (2012), Into the Storm (2014), Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), and Transformers: Age of Extinction were filmed in Pontiac.

The Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial is in Pontiac. It honors heroes who have fallen in service.

Education in Pontiac

St. Vincent de Paul Church

Students in Pontiac go to schools in the School District of the City of Pontiac. The main high school is Pontiac High School. There used to be two high schools, but they combined into one.

Pontiac also has four charter schools: Pontiac Academy for Excellence, Arts and Technology Academy, Walton Charter, and Great Lakes Academy. Notre Dame Preparatory High School is a private Catholic school in the city.

Transportation in Pontiac

Train Travel

Amtrak offers passenger train service from Pontiac to Chicago. The train, called the Wolverine, runs three times a day.

There used to be a commuter train service from Pontiac to downtown Detroit. This service stopped in 1983. People are still working to bring it back.

Freight trains also use Pontiac. The Grand Trunk Western Railroad has a large yard here. It helps serve the local car industry.

Air Travel

Oakland County International Airport serves Pontiac and nearby areas. It used to be called Pontiac City Airport. This airport is actually located outside Pontiac, in Waterford Township. The larger Detroit Metropolitan Airport is about 35 miles south of Pontiac.

Bus Services

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) runs local and regional bus services in Pontiac.

SMART Flex is a newer on-demand transit service. It started in 2021. It helps people get to bus stops, universities, grocery stores, and hospitals. You can book rides using the SMART Flex app.

Roads and Highways

Major roads in Pontiac include Woodward Avenue (M-1), Huron Street (M-59), and Telegraph Road (US 24).

• I-75 connects Pontiac to Flint to the northwest and Detroit to the south.
• US 24 ends north of Pontiac at I-75. Southbound, it goes through Detroit suburbs and to Monroe.
• M-1 (Woodward Avenue) loops around downtown Pontiac. It then goes south directly to Downtown Detroit.
• M-59 runs west to Howell and east to Utica.

Notable People from Pontiac

Climate

Pontiac has a "humid continental climate." This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters.

Images for kids

• 

  The Pontiac State Hospital, around 1912

• 

  Buckland Memorial Chapel at Oak Hill Cemetery

• 

  Houses in the Fairgrove Avenue Historic District

• 

  The Pontiac Silverdome in 2006

• 

  Franklin Boulevard Historic District

• 

  Modern Housing Corporation Addition Historic District

• 

  St. Vincent de Paul Church

See also

In Spanish: Pontiac (Míchigan) para niños