Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 66,337.

It is the county seat of Oakland County6. Considered a satellite city of Detroit, it is surrounded by affluent Metro Detroit suburbs. Although in the midst of these suburbs, Pontiac itself is an urban center with a significant manufacturing sector.

The city is at the north end of the famous Woodward Avenue, known in the 1950s and 1960s as being popular with young people who would cruise and drag-race their hot-rods in the area. Pontiac participates in the annual Woodward Dream Cruise, an event celebrating Woodward's hot-rod history, stretching from Pontiac to Detroit.

The city is sometimes referred to as "the Yak" by locals. Many younger residents are proud to claim the side of the city they hail from. The 300 and 400 address blocks are also other ways in which locals claim homestead in Pontiac. Numerous Hispanic immigrants also live in Pontiac, comprising an additional level of cultural diversity.

The city is bounded by the City of Auburn Hills to the east and north, the City of Lake Angelus to the north, Waterford Township to the west, and Bloomfield Hills and Township to the south.

The city is best-known for its General Motors manufacturing plants and the GM automobile brand, Pontiac, which was first produced in and named after the city. Also of note is the Pontiac Silverdome, the stadium that hosted the Detroit Lions from 1975 until 2002.

Pontiac, Michigan runs two main high schools being Pontiac Central High School and Pontiac Northern High School.

In recent years, many residents of southern Pontiac have begun sending their kids to Bloomfield Hills Schools causing a notable swell in the number of children attending those high schools, most notably Lahser High School.