Pontiac /ˈpɒntiæk, ˈpɒni-/ is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, located near Metro Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County, and about 12 miles north and slightly west of the Detroit city limits.Founded in 1818, Pontiac is notably the first European-American organized settlement of a town within the interior of Michigan, with the exception of Dearborn, Michigan, which is in close proximity to Detroit. It was named after Pontiac, a war chief of the Ottawa people, who had occupied that area before the European settlers. The city achieved its widest reputation for its General Motors automobile manufacturing plants of the 20th century, which were the basis of its economy and contributed to the wealth of the region. These included Fisher Body, Pontiac East Assembly, which manufactured GMC products, and the Pontiac Motor Division.