The U.S. Census Bureau earlier this week came out with new population figures on Detroit, “The Motor City,” or “Motown” — depending on whether you like the Cadillac or “The Supremes.”

The figures pointed to the sad story of a once lively, even glamorous city — once the fourth largest city in America — and its disastrous economic decline.

The new census figures show that Detroit’s population declined by 25 percent in the last decade, from 951,270 in 2000 to 713,777 in 2010, and by 60 percent since 1950, when American cars ruled the world and Detroit had 1.85 million people.   

The flight from Detroit in ten years was larger than the 140,000 people who fled New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In a new book, “Ruins of Detroit,” by two young French photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre, their photos tell the tragic story better than any words of how Detroit’s decline has created a city of neglect and decay. The photos are heart-breaking – how could America let this happen?

Look for yourselves!