Estimated Population of Michigan Counties and Statistical Areas: 2000-2004   (Excel file)

Estimated Population of Michigan Regions and Statistical Areas: 2000-2004   (Excel file)

Southeastern County Population Growth Between 2003 and 2004: An Analysis by Kurt Metzger   (PDF). 

Kurt Metzger is the director of the Michigan Metropolitan Information Center at Wayne State University.

Patterns of Population Change: 2000-2004

New population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that growth has slowed somewhat in the northern Lower Peninsula while remaining strong in fringe metropolitan counties [see regional table].

In percentage terms, the northwest Lower Peninsula has been the fastest growing portion of Michigan for over a decade.  For the twelve months ending in July 2004, however, population figures increased even more rapidly in the fringe metropolitan counties [1] (0.81 percent) than in the northwest Lower Peninsula [2] (0.71 percent).  Nevertheless, the estimated number of people in the northwest Lower Peninsula increased by 4.8 percent over the entire period since the census, while the number in Michigan's fringe metropolitan counties increased by 3.8 percent.  Population increased by 1.8 percent for the state as a whole during this period.  

The ten counties with the highest growth rates from 2003 to 2004 are widely scattered across the southern and western Lower Peninsula, including five metropolitan counties (Livingston, Clinton, Ottawa, Monroe, and Ionia),  three non-metropolitan counties in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula (Allegan, Mecosta, and Oceana), and two counties in the northwestern Lower Peninsula (Benzie and Emmet).  [Click here to view Table]

Counties with Population Increases

The new population estimates indicate that 61 Michigan counties gained population over the entire 51-month period from April 2000 to July 2004, including 13 counties that grew by more than 5 percent. 

Southeast Michigan.   Livingston County continues to be the fastest growing county in Michigan, with a 2.6 percent population increase from 2003 to 2004 and a 13.1 percent population increase since the census. Other counties in the Detroit CMSA that have experienced rapid growth since the census include Lapeer (5.2%), Washtenaw (5.1 percent) Monroe (4.5 percent), Macomb (4.4 percent), and Saint Clair (4.1 percent).

Other Metropolitan Areas.  Notable growth has also occurred in several counties clustered in or adjacent to the Grand Rapids metropolitan area.  Allegan, Ottawa, and Oceana counties grew by 6.4 percent, 5.9 percent, and 5.7 percent respectively since the 2000 Census, while six other nearby counties grew by more than 3 percent.  The ten county area centered around Grand Rapids grew by 4.2 percent over this period, second only to the 4.8 percent growth which occurred in the northwestern Lower Peninsula.  The two outlying counties in the Lansing metropolitan area-Clinton and Eaton-grew by 6.2 and 3.3 percent respectively since the 2000 Census. 

Northern Lower Peninsula.  Six counties in the northern Lower Peninsula have grown by more than 5 percent since the census: Benzie (9.2 percent), Grand Traverse (6.6 percent), Antrim (6.0 percent), Emmet (5.9%), Missaukee (5.6 percent), and Otsego (5.2 percent). Six other nearby counties grew by more than 3 percent. 

Counties with Population Decreases

The new estimates indicate that 22 Michigan counties lost population since the 2000 census. 

Upper Peninsula.  The estimated number of people has decreased in 13 out of the 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula since the 2000 Census. Estimated population levels increased by less than 1 percent in the remaining two counties of the U.P.  Four Michigan counties, all of them in the Upper Peninsula, have lost more than 3.5 percent of their population since the last census. 

Northeast Michigan.  Population losses also occurred in six counties along the Lake Huron shore, from Presque Isle in the northeastern Lower Peninsula to Huron at the tip of the Thumb. Several counties adjacent to these shoreline counties also experienced slow growth or small population declines. 

Central Metropolitan Counties.  According to the new estimates, only three of Michigan's metropolitan counties have lost population since the census-Wayne (-2.2 percent), Bay (-0.6 percent), and Saginaw (-0.5 percent).  Wayne county had the 7th largest rate of decline in the state, surpassed by five counties in the Upper Peninsula and by Huron county at the tip of the thumb. It should be noted, however, that Wayne county's rate of population loss has slowed considerably since the 1970s and 1980s.  Despite lower birth rates and a weaker economy, the county's estimated annual rate of population loss from 2000 - 2004 is only one-quarter of a percentage point higher than the rate experienced in the 1990s.

Components of Population Change

For an analysis of components of population change for southeastern Michigan counties, see SE County Population Growth Between 2003 and 2004.

For an an earlier analysis of population change (2000 - 2003), Click here.

Updated 04/14/2005