2009 Census Report: Michigan Is 1 of 3 States To Lose Residents

[Purveyor]

By JENNIFER DIXON, JOHN WISELY and KRISTI TANNER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS

Michigan lost population for the fourth year in a row, one of three states to lose residents, according to estimates released early this morning in the run-up to the 2010 U.S. census.

Michigan lost 32,759 people between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009, a decline of 0.3%, while the nation's population grew 0.9% to 307,006,550. Maine and Rhode Island also lost population.

Michigan's population now stands at 9,969,727, compared with 9,938,444 in the 2000 census.

The population bleed affects Michigan's share of funding in many federal programs, everything from Medicaid and education to transportation, housing and stimulus funds, said Kenneth Darga, the state's demographer.

Xuan Liu, manager of the data center at the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments -- a regional planning agency and association of local governments -- along with others, had predicted more decline in this year's numbers.

While next year's census will determine congressional redistricting and could influence the state's political clout in Washington, the 2009 population estimate is important for helping local planners make decisions about roads, water and sewerage capacity and other infrastructure developments, Liu said Monday. "It gives you a sense of how things are changing," Liu said.

MORE...

DETROIT FREE PRESS: http://www.freep.com/article/20091222/NEWS06/91223002/1319/2009-census-report-Michigan-is-1-of-3-states-to-lose-residents

[Purveyor]

1. Fastest / Slowest Growing Regions:

FASTEST GROWING STATES/REGIONS

1. Wyoming, 544,270 people, up 2.1%

2. Utah, 2,784,572 people, up 2.1%

3. Texas, 24,782,302, people, up 2%

4. Colorado, 5,024,748 people, up 1.8%

5. District of Columbia, 599,657 people, up 1.6%

SLOWEST GROWING STATES

1. Michigan, 9,969,727 people, down 0.3%

2. Maine, 1,318,301 people, down 0.1%

3. Rhode Island, 1,053,209 people, down 0.03%

4. Vermont, 621,760 people, up 0.1%

5. Ohio, 11,542,645 people, up 0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

[Romulox]

2. That's OK--Michigan is getting a special break on Medicaid payments...

Oh...wait. No.

[Zynx]

3. The political process has never been virtuous.

[Romulox]

5. OK. Thanks for that platitude. nt

[Zynx]

6. Do you really expect major pieces of legislation to be passed in absence of some

unsavory deals? I don't. I've worked in state government. I've seen what goes on and it can't be helped. There's very little you can do about it.

[Tejas]

7. Congratulations on giving up. nt

[Zynx]

10. It's never changed despite about 50,000 attempts over many years in many different countries.

It's just how people are. Get used to it.

[Romulox]

11. If the Federal government can't (or won't) assist the state in greatest distress, what stake

do I have in this "political process" which you seem to make a point of apologizing for? :shrug:

[Mari333]

4. good. more for me.

actually, when the water wars start I expect people may come back here.

[Bravo Zulu]

8. Pennsylvania shows small yearly population growth

Pennsylvania's population grew by 38,399 between 2008 and 2009, to 12,604,767, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

The bureau's estimate released today said Pennsylvania grew at a 0.3 percent rate in the 12 months before July 1, which is less than estimated national growth of 0.9 percent.

Pennsylvania, which remains the country's sixth-largest state, ranked 43rd among the 50 states in its growth rate, ahead of West Virginia, New Hampshire, Ohio, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and Michigan.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09357/1023067-100.stm#ixzz0aYe3hn6g

[HopeHoops]

9. Did they just misplace them? Shouldn't they be looking for them?

How fucking irresponsible.