Founded in 1701, the port city takes its name from its original French moniker, Ville d'Etroit, which means City of the Strait and refers to the Detroit River's role as connector of (or strait between) Lakes Huron and Erie . Throughout its history, Detroit has been heavily involved in transportation, from waterborne shipping in the 19th century to automobile production in the 20th. The wealth that came with such endeavors led to the building of ornate mansions by the town's upper class and to the beautification of the city itself.

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