Hamtramck

Hamtramck is a city within the borders of Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan. The city spans 5.4 square kilometers (2.09 square miles) and forms an enclave with its own administration and dense development.

At the beginning of the 20th century the area was still farmland until an automotive plant in 1914 transformed the landscape. Workers from Poland, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia followed the factories and shaped today's population.

The name comes from French Canadian officer Jean François Hamtramck and recalls the region's early colonial past. On street corners and in small shops today you see Arabic script next to Bengali and Bosnian lettering, and on Fridays the mosques fill with worshippers from different continents.

The city is reachable from all sides by roads leading from Detroit. Those on foot will find many shops and restaurants on Joseph Campau Avenue, where you can get around easily without a car.

In 2021, Hamtramck made national headlines by electing the first all-Muslim city council and mayor in United States history.

Location: Wayne County

Inception: 1901

Elevation above the sea: 192 m

Address: Hamtramck, MI, USA

Website: https://hamtramckcity.gov

GPS coordinates: 42.39778,-83.05722

Latest update: December 14, 2025 23:33