[leadsquirter]

Annual Estimates of the Population for Counties: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2007-01.html - broken link)

I think you need excel on your machine to view the data. It is interesting to see what counties are growing, staying the same, or declining since 2000. I'll list the top ten counties in case you can't open it. 2,000 population is listed first then the 2007 estimate.

1. Wayne 2,058,895 1,985,101
2. Oakland 1,196,604 1,206,089
3. Macomb 790,877 831,077
4. Kent 576,495 604,330
5. Genesee 436,876 434,715
6. Washtenaw 324,576 350,003
7. Ingham 279,295 279,206
8. Ottawa 239,467 259,206
9. Kalamazoo 239,058 245,333
10. Saginaw 209,928 202,268

[malamute]

Originally Posted by leadsquirter

Annual Estimates of the Population for Counties: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2007-01.html - broken link)

I think you need excel on your machine to view the data. It is interesting to see what counties are growing, staying the same, or declining since 2000. I'll list the top ten counties in case you can't open it. 2,000 population is listed first then the 2007 estimate.

1. Wayne 2,058,895 1,985,101
2. Oakland 1,196,604 1,206,089
3. Macomb 790,877 831,077
4. Kent 576,495 604,330
5. Genesee 436,876 434,715
6. Washtenaw 324,576 350,003
7. Ingham 279,295 279,206
8. Ottawa 239,467 259,206
9. Kalamazoo 239,058 245,333
10. Saginaw 209,928 202,268

It doesn't look like the population is really dropping much at all. Rather small drops in just 3 counties.

[Michigansnowflake]

Charlevoix has stayed about the same, give or take 100 or so: 26,181

[magellan]

Originally Posted by malamute

It doesn't look like the population is really dropping much at all. Rather small drops in just 3 counties.

Yes, the "mass exodus" terminology used by the media is quite a bit overstated. Last year was probably Michigan's worst year, with population dropping about 30,000 people out of a total pop. of 10 Million:

Michigan Population and Components of Change

It's certainly not good, but when you see talk of "half the state" or even a "quarter of the state" leaving is so far from reality it's quite humorous. Try .3%., or .003, or 3/1000ths.

[suydam]

Part of the issue is that population should really grow.
Births out-number deaths.... so even in tough times, population should go up.
It takes really tough times to have a population decrease.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by suydam

Part of the issue is that population should really grow.
Births out-number deaths.... so even in tough times, population should go up.
It takes really tough times to have a population decrease.

Agreed. It's certainly not good to have population decline, no matter how small.

[baystater]

Originally Posted by magellan

Agreed. It's certainly not good to have population decline, no matter how small.

Hey Magellan. Notice Rhode Island again?

[suydam]

Did anyone notice that today's Grand Rapids Press portrayed a totally different picture than these census numbers?

At quick glance I cannot find the URL, but the front page had the headline "Goodbye Michigan" with a map of the state showing that nearly every county had a population decline in 06 vs. 07. The US Census estimates disagree, so I'm left wondering where they got their information.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by magellan

Agreed. It's certainly not good to have population decline, no matter how small.

I think it depends on who leaves. I think population decreases could even be good if it's the non-productive or criminal element that leaves but of course that's not usually what happens.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by suydam

Did anyone notice that today's Grand Rapids Press portrayed a totally different picture than these census numbers?

At quick glance I cannot find the URL, but the front page had the headline "Goodbye Michigan" with a map of the state showing that nearly every county had a population decline in 06 vs. 07. The US Census estimates disagree, so I'm left wondering where they got their information.

I saw that too. The Press was showing "net migration" but making it appear to be population loss. They took the link off their website for some reason.

Kudos for Grand Traverse County for having a positive net migration.