Once an industrial titan, Highland Park now navigates a unique path of urban reinvention.

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Surrounded by Detroit, this Michigan city was once a booming hub for Ford and Chrysler. Today, it faces the challenges of a shrinking tax base and population, leading to unconventional solutions like solar-powered streetlights and a reliance on county services to maintain its essential municipal functions.

Highland Park began as a failed farming development in the 19th century before Henry Ford transformed it into an industrial powerhouse. In 1907, Ford purchased 160 acres to build a plant, which opened its first assembly line in 1913. This sparked a massive population boom, growing from 4,120 residents in 1910 to about 46,500 by 1927. The city incorporated in 1918 specifically to protect its tax base from Detroit's expansion. Chrysler later joined the landscape in 1925, establishing its headquarters there for seven decades.

The city's decline mirrored the broader struggles of the automotive industry. Ford began demolishing its plant in the late 1950s, and Chrysler eventually moved its headquarters to Auburn Hills between 1991 and 1993, a move that cost the city 6,000 jobs. As the tax base eroded, Highland Park faced severe financial instability, leading the State of Michigan to appoint emergency financial managers between 2001 and 2009. These managers shuttered public buildings and laid off staff to manage the mounting debt.

Modern Highland Park is defined by its resilience in the face of austerity. In 2011, the city removed two-thirds of its streetlights because it could no longer afford the $60,000 monthly electric bill. This prompted the creation of Soulardarity, a nonprofit that began installing solar-powered lighting to fill the gap. The city also grappled with significant infrastructure debt, including a $17.7 million dispute with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department that was settled in 2020. Despite these hurdles, the city continues to operate under a council-mayor government, working to regenerate its downtown core through tax increment financing districts and historic preservation efforts.

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