Cantina El Dorado3300 Auburn Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Metro Detroit Oakland County City
Auburn Hills
Auto headquarters, a university campus and Michigan's biggest outlet mall on I-75
- People (2025 estimate)
- 25,925
- Land area
- 16.6 sq mi · 43.1 km²
- From downtown
- 25.8 miles · 42 km · northwest
- Incorporated
- 1983
Nothing on our calendar here this week yet.
01 / Why it matters
Why Auburn Hills matters
Auburn Hills is one of metro Detroit's big auto office districts. Chrysler, now Stellantis North America, has had its headquarters here since 1996, and more than 50 automotive companies have facilities along I-75.
It's a young city: Pontiac Township and Auburn Heights merged as Auburn Hills in 1983. The old village core at Auburn and Squirrel roads is now a small downtown, and nearby is the main campus of Oakland University, born from Matilda Dodge Wilson's 1957 gift.
For sports fans this was the Palace of Auburn Hills: the Pistons played their home games there from 1988 to 2017, including all three of their NBA championship seasons (1989, 1990 and 2004). The arena was torn down in 2020. Most visitors now come for Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, where an aquarium and a LEGO play center sit alongside the stores.
02 / Known for
What Auburn Hills is known for
Headquarters of Stellantis North America (formerly Chrysler) since 1996
Main campus of Oakland University, founded in 1957 on Matilda Dodge Wilson's estate
The Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the Detroit Pistons from 1988 to 2017, demolished in 2020
Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, opened November 12, 1998, the largest outlet mall in Michigan
03 / What’s on
What’s on in Auburn Hills
Nothing on our calendar in Auburn Hills right now. Try the neighbors:
04 / Places
10 places on our site in Auburn Hills
Cantina El Dorado3300 Auburn Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 4832605 / What to do
If you’re in Auburn Hills
Great Lakes Crossing Outlets
A huge outlet mall off I-75; besides the stores it houses LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan and Peppa Pig World of Play.
Official site ↗SEA LIFE Michigan
An aquarium at Great Lakes Crossing with more than 2,000 sea creatures and Michigan's only underwater tunnel, where sharks and rays glide overhead.
Official site ↗Clinton River Trail
A 16-mile walking and biking trail linking Sylvan Lake, Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills and Rochester; open since 2004 and part of the Iron Belle Trail from Belle Isle to Ironwood.
Official site ↗
06 / History
Auburn Hills through the years
- 1821
Aaron Webster founds the village of Auburn on the Clinton River, at today's Auburn and Squirrel roads.
- 1919
The settlement, renamed Amy in 1880, officially becomes Auburn Heights.
- 1957
Matilda Dodge Wilson and her husband donate their estate and $2 million to start what becomes Oakland University.
- 1983
Pontiac Township and Auburn Heights merge into the City of Auburn Hills.
- 1988
The privately financed, $90 million Palace of Auburn Hills opens.
- 2020
On July 11 the Palace's roof is brought down with explosives, finishing the arena's demolition.
Sources
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Auburn Hills city).
- 2020 Census, Michigan (PL 94-171)
- Census Bureau population estimates: cities and towns
- auburnhills.org/residents/about-auburn-hills/auburn-hills-timeline
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn_Hills,_Michigan
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_University
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Palace_of_Auburn_Hills
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Pistons
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Lakes_Crossing_Outlets
- simon.com/mall/great-lakes-crossing-outlets
- visitsealife.com/michigan
- clintonrivertrail.org
- auburnhills.org
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: +6.4 percent.
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