Pontiac: City of the Week Factoids
Congratulations to Pontiac: City of the Week with WCSX! According to the official Pontiac website, Pontiac was first settled in 1818. By 1820 there was enough of a population to form a village named after Chief Pontiac.
Chief Pontiac was the chief of the Ottawa tribe and lived from 1720 to 1769.
The village of Pontiac eventually became recognized by the state legislature in 1837 and then made into a city in 1861.
Even before the automobile industry moved into Pontiac, Pontiac was doing well. Pontiac’s central location helped it grow with wool and grist mills. By 1844 the railroad came through and Pontiac’s growth flourished.
William C. Durant bought many automobile companies in Pontiac to eventually form the nucleus of General Motors in 1909.
As the automobile industry grew, so did Pontiac. Unfortunately, Pontiac was also affected when the automobile industry did not.
But Pontiac has a rich history and has had ups and downs. There is always a positive attitude to see Pontiac grow back into the glory of the golden years.
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