Detroit became the center of America’s automobile industry largely for logistical reasons: its midwestern location, high population density and proximity to raw materials were just a few factors that assured investors it was an optimal spot for building an industrial hub.
Silicon Valley’s tech ecosystem, on the other hand, was initially seeded by military research and a surge in college admissions after the Second World War that fostered a community of technologists and investors.
But those aren’t permanent geographic traits like being close to ports or large deposits of iron and copper ore.
Decades after Palo Alto’s first garage startup, talent and capital has become more evenly distributed: Thi …
