89,000 left Wayne County, census data show
Suburbs benefit: Macomb, Livingston among hot destinations
March 22, 2007
BY MARISOL BELLO, ZACHARY GORCHOW and VICTORIA TURK
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS
While Michigan's population held steady in the last six years, Wayne County lost more residents than any other county in the country, save for hurricane-ravaged Orleans Parish, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates to be released today.
Wayne County's loss of more than 89,000 residents from 2000 to 2006 represents an ongoing slide, fueled by the steady number of families leaving Detroit and high job losses and foreclosures. But that loss has meant rapid growth in places like Livingston, Washtenaw and Macomb counties.
Statewide, Kent and Ottawa counties -- the Grand Rapids area -- and Benzie and Grand Traverse Up North also grew faster than most other counties.
The Wayne County loss represents 4% of the county's almost 2 million residents. The only place with a bigger loss -- more than 261,000 in New Orleans' home parish in Louisiana, or 54% of the parish population -- can point to the slow recovery from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"If we're No. 1 outside of Louisiana ... that's important," said Kurt Metzger, a demographer and research director for the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "It's significant to look at what the heck is going on here. ... We're leading in foreclosures, job losses, all these things build on each other."
But Wayne County's struggles have resulted in gains for surrounding counties.
Macomb pulled in almost 45,000 residents, increasing its population by 6%. Washtenaw gained more than 21,000, or 7%, and Livingston grew by almost 28,000, or 18%.
Oakland County's population increased by 20,000-- or 2% -- to 1.2 million.
Wayne County has been particularly battered by Michigan's economy. The county's unemployment rate in January was 9.1%, compared with a statewide rate of 6.9%, the highest in the nation.
From 2000 to 2006, Michigan's population grew by 1.6%, to 10.1 million. In the same span the state lost 336,000 jobs, according to a University of Michigan study.
The number of mortgage foreclosures in Wayne County last year hit 40,220 -- one out of every 21 homes -- more than any other county in the nation's largest metropolitan areas.
In Livingston County, three-quarters of the population increase occurred as a result of people moving in domestically, as opposed to immigrants and births outpacing deaths.
Husband and wife Mark and Chris Jackson, ages 36 and 33, are moving their software business and residence from Livonia to Livingston County next week. They need more space for their business, CMJ Designs, and they said they couldn't find what they needed at the right price in Livonia or surrounding communities.
Seeing that metro Detroiters were moving west, they looked at Northville, but found it too expensive, so they chose downtown Brighton with its strong business district and settled on a home in nearby Green Oak Township. Both grew up in Dearborn Heights.
"What I really like about Livingston County is it's newer, cleaner, it's nicer, and it's got low crime rates, which is a big plus," said Chris Jackson.
Meanwhile, many of the changes in Macomb County are occurring because Detroiters from the east side are moving to the southern reaches of Macomb, particularly to affordable communities such as Eastpointe, Warren and Center Line, Metzger said.
And the growth in the northern portions of the county is fueled by Oakland County residents who are moving to new housing complexes with cheaper taxes, he said.
"The numbers really point to the fact that this is a region," Metzger said. "Wayne County's losses contribute to Oakland County's and Macomb County's growth. None of the counties operate independently."
Rod and Nadine Motley are the quintessential new Macomb County residents who left Detroit in the past six years. When the family looked to buy their first home in 2005, they chose to leave Detroit's east side and buy a three-bedroom ranch in Eastpointe.
Rod Motley, 36, a FedEx courier who was born and raised in Detroit, said he wanted to stay close to the city. But he wanted better education for his two school-age children, cheaper insurance and more peace of mind, away from the crime and trash-strewn streets in Detroit.
Motley said he loves Eastpointe's emphasis on keeping its streets clean, and fining residents when they don't mow their grass or when they improperly bag their trash.
He especially loves the drop in his car insurance rates. Today, he said his insurance for two cars is the same amount he paid for one car in Detroit.
"What I like about Eastpointe is what you find in any other suburban community," Motley said. "I love my home. But I wish I'd moved a little farther out, maybe past 10 Mile."
Much of Wayne County's population loss is a result of moves from families like the Motleys.
An estimated 13,000 residents a year move out of Detroit. The most recent census estimates show Detroit's population may be as low as 836,000, though the figure does not include people who live in group quarters, such as nursing homes.
Other areas struggling with population losses are inner-ring suburbs like Dearborn Heights, Redford Township and Lincoln Park. Larger communities like Dearborn and Livonia are basically holding steady, and communities on the edge of Wayne County like Brownstown, Canton and Northville townships are growing fast.
Wayne County and Detroit officials say they have plans to stop the hemorrhage by attracting new jobs.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick wants to target specific neighborhoods for renewal and train Detroiters for new careers in information technology and health care.
County Executive Robert Ficano said the county must become more business-friendly.
The county is working on a strategy to develop the area between Metro Airport in Romulus and Willow Run Airport in Van Buren Township as a business hub.
To combat one of the most serious disadvantages facing older, fully developed communities -- aging housing on smaller lots -- Ficano wants to let residents upgrade or make additions to their homes without seeing their property taxes go up.
Currently, that program is for commercial property.
"We have to keep trying everything we can because we're in a crisis," Ficano said.
Suburbs benefit: Macomb, Livingston among hot destinations
March 22, 2007
BY MARISOL BELLO, ZACHARY GORCHOW and VICTORIA TURK
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS
While Michigan's population held steady in the last six years, Wayne County lost more residents than any other county in the country, save for hurricane-ravaged Orleans Parish, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates to be released today.
Wayne County's loss of more than 89,000 residents from 2000 to 2006 represents an ongoing slide, fueled by the steady number of families leaving Detroit and high job losses and foreclosures. But that loss has meant rapid growth in places like Livingston, Washtenaw and Macomb counties.
Statewide, Kent and Ottawa counties -- the Grand Rapids area -- and Benzie and Grand Traverse Up North also grew faster than most other counties.
The Wayne County loss represents 4% of the county's almost 2 million residents. The only place with a bigger loss -- more than 261,000 in New Orleans' home parish in Louisiana, or 54% of the parish population -- can point to the slow recovery from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"If we're No. 1 outside of Louisiana ... that's important," said Kurt Metzger, a demographer and research director for the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "It's significant to look at what the heck is going on here. ... We're leading in foreclosures, job losses, all these things build on each other."
But Wayne County's struggles have resulted in gains for surrounding counties.
Macomb pulled in almost 45,000 residents, increasing its population by 6%. Washtenaw gained more than 21,000, or 7%, and Livingston grew by almost 28,000, or 18%.
Oakland County's population increased by 20,000-- or 2% -- to 1.2 million.
Wayne County has been particularly battered by Michigan's economy. The county's unemployment rate in January was 9.1%, compared with a statewide rate of 6.9%, the highest in the nation.
From 2000 to 2006, Michigan's population grew by 1.6%, to 10.1 million. In the same span the state lost 336,000 jobs, according to a University of Michigan study.
The number of mortgage foreclosures in Wayne County last year hit 40,220 -- one out of every 21 homes -- more than any other county in the nation's largest metropolitan areas.
In Livingston County, three-quarters of the population increase occurred as a result of people moving in domestically, as opposed to immigrants and births outpacing deaths.
Husband and wife Mark and Chris Jackson, ages 36 and 33, are moving their software business and residence from Livonia to Livingston County next week. They need more space for their business, CMJ Designs, and they said they couldn't find what they needed at the right price in Livonia or surrounding communities.
Seeing that metro Detroiters were moving west, they looked at Northville, but found it too expensive, so they chose downtown Brighton with its strong business district and settled on a home in nearby Green Oak Township. Both grew up in Dearborn Heights.
"What I really like about Livingston County is it's newer, cleaner, it's nicer, and it's got low crime rates, which is a big plus," said Chris Jackson.
Meanwhile, many of the changes in Macomb County are occurring because Detroiters from the east side are moving to the southern reaches of Macomb, particularly to affordable communities such as Eastpointe, Warren and Center Line, Metzger said.
And the growth in the northern portions of the county is fueled by Oakland County residents who are moving to new housing complexes with cheaper taxes, he said.
"The numbers really point to the fact that this is a region," Metzger said. "Wayne County's losses contribute to Oakland County's and Macomb County's growth. None of the counties operate independently."
Rod and Nadine Motley are the quintessential new Macomb County residents who left Detroit in the past six years. When the family looked to buy their first home in 2005, they chose to leave Detroit's east side and buy a three-bedroom ranch in Eastpointe.
Rod Motley, 36, a FedEx courier who was born and raised in Detroit, said he wanted to stay close to the city. But he wanted better education for his two school-age children, cheaper insurance and more peace of mind, away from the crime and trash-strewn streets in Detroit.
Motley said he loves Eastpointe's emphasis on keeping its streets clean, and fining residents when they don't mow their grass or when they improperly bag their trash.
He especially loves the drop in his car insurance rates. Today, he said his insurance for two cars is the same amount he paid for one car in Detroit.
"What I like about Eastpointe is what you find in any other suburban community," Motley said. "I love my home. But I wish I'd moved a little farther out, maybe past 10 Mile."
Much of Wayne County's population loss is a result of moves from families like the Motleys.
An estimated 13,000 residents a year move out of Detroit. The most recent census estimates show Detroit's population may be as low as 836,000, though the figure does not include people who live in group quarters, such as nursing homes.
Other areas struggling with population losses are inner-ring suburbs like Dearborn Heights, Redford Township and Lincoln Park. Larger communities like Dearborn and Livonia are basically holding steady, and communities on the edge of Wayne County like Brownstown, Canton and Northville townships are growing fast.
Wayne County and Detroit officials say they have plans to stop the hemorrhage by attracting new jobs.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick wants to target specific neighborhoods for renewal and train Detroiters for new careers in information technology and health care.
County Executive Robert Ficano said the county must become more business-friendly.
The county is working on a strategy to develop the area between Metro Airport in Romulus and Willow Run Airport in Van Buren Township as a business hub.
To combat one of the most serious disadvantages facing older, fully developed communities -- aging housing on smaller lots -- Ficano wants to let residents upgrade or make additions to their homes without seeing their property taxes go up.
Currently, that program is for commercial property.
"We have to keep trying everything we can because we're in a crisis," Ficano said.
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