(1) city’s population increased from about 300,000 in 1900 to 1.8 million in 1950 as the city attracted many workers to work in its car factories. In 1960, it had the highest income per person in the USA. Today, however, more than 40,000 buildings are vavacant or not used and property prices have fallen by more than 80% (2) Between 1900 and 1950, Detroit had a growing economy. The American car companies, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler were all located in Detroit and they manufactured the majority of the cars sold in the US. However, as international competition increased and American car sales decreased, many people lost their jobs in Detroit’s car factories. The city had relied too much on one industry. As a result, when the car industry suffered, it also had a negative effect on Detroit’s economy. Reduced car sales also meant that there would be less tax money from the city’s car companies, which decreased the city’s already low government budget. (3) Detroit’s population also fell to just 700,000 in 2013 as many of the richer people moved away from the city. As the city’s car industry became weaker, the number of jobs in the city decreased and unemployment reached 30% by 2013. Over 60% of Detroit’s population who work now, do so outside the city. However, there is some hope. Urban farms are appearing in the city. Young people- especially artists and musicians - are moving into Detroit to make use of cheap city spaces. The city is also creating new policies, such as low rents and tax cuts, in order to help attract new businesses back into the city. What did more car factories in Detroit lead to?
The word suffered in Paragraph (2) is closest in meaning to