It may also be used to refer to the Greater Downtown area, a 7.2 square mile[2] region that includes surrounding neighborhoods such as Midtown, Corktown, Rivertown, and Woodbridge.

The city's main thoroughfare M-1 (Woodward Avenue) links Downtown to Midtown, New Center, and the North End.

Business in Detroit boomed along with its growing automobile industry, leading to an increase in downtown's population and wealth.

Black Bottom was one of the city's major African American communities, historically named by French colonial settlers for its rich soil.

High-profile events like the 2005 MLB All-Star Game, Super Bowl XL, and the 2006 and 2012 World Series have taken place in downtown, generating income for local businesses and spurring more growth.

In 2006, the Cleveland-based Ferchill Group began the $180 million redevelopment of the historic Book Cadlliac Hotel at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Michigan Avenue.

[6] In 2007, Downtown Detroit was named among the best big-city neighborhoods in which to retire by CNN Money Magazine editors.

[7] Downtown contains popular destinations, including the International Riverfront, the MGM Grand Detroit, Greektown Casino Hotel, and many sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Downtown Detroit hosts over 92,000 workers which make up about one-fifth of the city's total employment base; in addition, it is home to about 6,200 residents.

Downtown offers a number of residential high rises, including Riverfront Towers, The Albert, and Town Residences.

In 2021, the 2-acre Hudson's site 680-foot tower, and the 232-foot tall, block-long building called "the block", with the two sections being separated by an activated alley, were under construction by Dan Gilbert's real estate firm, Bedrock Detroit, that will include 150 apartments, a 200-plus-room hotel, office, retail and event space.

[26] The Detroit Greyhound Lines station is directly west of Downtown along the John C. Lodge Freeway.

The Rosa Parks Transit Center, completed in 2009, serves as the main hub for the bus systems downtown.

The People Mover, a 2.94-mile (4.7 km) automated rail rapid transit system, operates on a single-track, one-way loop through the downtown area.

Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation has its headquarters in the Buhl Building in Downtown Detroit.

It runs 3.3 miles on Woodward Avenue from Congress Street in Downtown Detroit to the Grand Boulevard station in New Center.

[29] Companies with headquarters in Downtown Detroit include Compuware,[30] Dickinson Wright,[31][32][33] General Motors,[34] Little Caesars,[35] Campbell-Ewald,[36] Miller Canfield,[37] and Quicken Loans.

[46] The Metro Times was previously headquartered in the Detroit Cornice and Slate Company Building in Downtown.

Campus Martius Park is open year-round, with ice skating in the winter with a huge Christmas tree display, to a large fountain and many concerts in the summer.

In December 2012, the largest Buffalo Wild Wings in the country opened in the district, and a new mixed-use development by CEO Dan Gilbert, businessman, and developer, The Z, due to its Z-like shape, with 1,300 parking spaces, artwork, LED lighting, and 33,000-square-feet of street level retail space.

[50] Some places for entertainment and attractions within the downtown region include Campus Martius Park, Philip A. Hart Plaza, Coleman A.

Young Community Center, Detroit Riverwalk, Fox Theatre, Ford Field, Little Caesars Arena, and Comerica Park.

The Corktown Campus, near downtown at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, houses the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and Dental Clinic.

[63] Of the three Catholic high schools in the city, two are operated by the Society of Jesus and the third is co-sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Congregation of St.