Pontiac, Michigan | ||
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City | ||
City of Pontiac | ||
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Location of Pontiac, Michigan |
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Coordinates: 42°38′46″N 83°17′33″W / 42.64611°N 83.29250°WCoordinates: 42°38′46″N 83°17′33″W / 42.64611°N 83.29250°W | ||
Country | United States | |
State | Michigan | |
County | Oakland | |
Settled | 1818 | |
Incorporated | 1861 | |
Government | ||
• Type | Council-Strong Mayor | |
• Mayor | Deirdre Waterman | |
Area | ||
• Total | 20.28 sq mi (52.52 km2) | |
• Land | 19.97 sq mi (51.72 km2) | |
• Water | 0.31 sq mi (0.80 km2) | |
Elevation | 922 ft (281 m) | |
Population (2010) | ||
• Total | 59,515 | |
• Estimate (2012) | 60,175 | |
• Density | 2,980.2/sq mi (1,150.7/km2) | |
Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) | |
• Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | |
ZIP codes | 48340-48343 | |
Area code(s) | 248, 947 | |
FIPS code | 26-65440 | |
GNIS feature ID | 0635224 | |
Website | http://www.pontiac.mi.us |
Pontiac /ˈpɒnᵗiæk/ is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, located in Metro Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County. and about 12 miles (19 km) north and slightly west of the Detroit city limits.
Pontiac is notably the first organized settlement of a town in 1818 within the interior of Michigan, with the exception of Dearborn that was in close proximity of Detroit. Named after Pontiac, a war chief of the Ottawa people, the city achieved its widest reputation for its General Motors automobile manufacturing plants of the 20th century, which were the basis of its economy and contributed to the wealth of the region. These included Fisher Body, Pontiac East Assembly (a.k.a. Truck & Coach/Bus) which manufactured GMC products, and the Pontiac Motor Division, which in the city's heyday was the primary automobile assembly plant where the famed Pontiac cars were produced. They were named after the city. The city of Pontiac also was home to Oakland Motor Car Company, which was acquired by General Motors in 1909.
Also of note is the Pontiac Silverdome, the stadium that hosted the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1975 until 2002, when the team returned to downtown Detroit. Super Bowl XVI was played at the Silverdome in 1982.