ABSTRACT
Detroit was founded in 1701 when French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac established a fort and settlement on the site, with control of the town passing to the British in 1760. The city grew gradually until the 1910s, when thousands of migrant workers poured into the city to work at Henry Ford's Highland Park plant to produce the world's first complex assembly line product: Ford's Model T. Prior to the declaration of the bankruptcy of Detroit, the extent of the city's economic problems had been mired in secrecy. There continue to be significant tensions around the future direction of the city, which are well illustrated by the ongoing saga of the half-built Wayne County jail. Asked about the growing significance of community gardens in Detroit, Simone DeSousa agreed this had been an important part of residents re-imaging their city.
