Detroit has lost more than half its population since 1950, from about 1.8
million to fewer than 700,000 people today.

Detroit, Michigan, is world famous as the "Motor City" and the former home
of Motown Records. But despite Detroit's iconic status in American history,
"Hitsville U.S.A." has seen a declining population in the past few decades.
Since 1950, the city has lost more than half its population, from a high of
1.8 million in 1950 to about 688,000 in 2015. This decline is frequently
attributed to the loss of jobs, which has resulted in a depressed local
economy and a high crime rate.