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Detroit and Seattle followed similar industrial and labor paths through the 20th century.
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Both dominated the timber industry, which led to strong woodworking craftsmanship.
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Both would become industrial manufacturing towns in Automotive and Aviation.
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Both had strong labor unions.
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Both were important in producing military equipment during WWII.
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Both had post-war economic booms that lasted 25 years.
In the 1970s, the downturns in Detroit's auto industry and Seattle's aircraft industry dominance led to high unemployment and residents leaving for greener pastures. In fact, both cities unknowingly shared the same inside joke: "Will the last person to leave (Detroit/Seattle) turn off the lights?" Seattle had a creative/disruptive moment when two tech companies, Microsoft and Amazon, established Seattle as a tech hub that would compete with Silicon Valley. Meanwhile, some Michigan natives moved to Silicon Valley to found Google and Sun Microsystems.
Two cities with similar industrial histories are now completely different, and the question is: Why?
A deep dive into America's industrial history
This book compares Detroit and Seattle over 100 years. It highlights the ambitions of visionary entrepreneurs, the agendas of city leaders, and the governing styles of workforce leaders. The book assesses the different power structures in the automotive and aviation industries and how they shaped the citizens, workers, and communities.
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