City History
The first settlers arrived in what
is now the City of
Pontiac
in 1818. Two years later there were enough people there to form a village named
after the famous Indian Chief who had made his headquarters in the area only a
few years before.
The
village was officially recognized by the state legislature in 1837 and it
incorporated as a city in 1861. From the beginning,
Pontiac
's central location served it well. It
attracted professional people, including doctors and lawyers, and soon also
became a center of industry. The city became the location of choice for woolen
and grist mills which made use of the
Clinton
River
as a power source. With the coming of the railroad through the downtown area in
1844,
Pontiac
's
progress and success were assured.
Abundant
natural resources led to the establishment of several carriage manufacturing
companies, all of which were thriving at the turn of the century when the first
self-propelled vehicles were introduced. The City of
Pontiac
quickly became a capital of the new
automotive industry.
As
the small, "horseless carriage" manufacturers became
consolidated under the mantle of
the General Motors Corporation, Pontiac grew as the industry grew, suffering
the same setback as other cities during depression years of the 1930s. In the
boom years following World War II,
Pontiac
was
at the forefront of growth in affluent Oakland County.
While
the City joined many others in experiencing a slowdown of retail business in
the downtown area in the '60s and '70s, a renewed spirit of optimism has taken
over as
Pontiac
looks
forward to the next century.
Pontiac
is served by the
Oakland
County
International
Airport
- one of the busiest airports in the world. The city also has access to a
network of state and county highways. Interstate 75 provides a direct route to
the city.
Pontiac
is protected by a force of 230 police officers and support personnel, and a
full-time fire department of more than 100 fire fighters in five stations
across the city. The city operates its own water, waste water and sewage
treatment facilities for all residents who have city-supplied water. Many homes
on the northern edge of the city rely on well water. Under the leadership of an energetic administration, the city has
actively sought to diversify its business base. By incorporating its various
economic development arms under the auspices of the Pontiac Growth Group, the
City has made a commitment to continue its dynamic growth into the 21st
century.
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