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The beginning of the 20th century brought a great wave of immigration to America. War, economic disasters, and political unrest sent millions of immigrants towards the great industrial cities, with the hope that the life they would make could be a better one.
At the turn of the century, Detroit was one of the fastest growing cities in America. Outside of New York and Chicago, it was the most popular destination for incoming immigrants. In addition, thousands of families moved to Detroit from the rural South. All were drawn to Detroit by the promise of work in the factories, and the legendary $5 workday established by Henry Ford. By 1925, nearly half of Detroit’s residents were foreign born. The population swiftly rose over 1.5 million in the space of fifty years.
Immigration trends shifted over time. The first part of the century brought mainly Europeans, establishing large communities of Polish, German, Belgian, Italian, Greek and Russian origin. The second half of the century brought many groups seeking asylum, notably residents of the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and Asians of Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Cambodian descent. Today, the Detroit area is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the nation.
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