Census Bureau estimates: Detroit population rises after decades of decline, South dominates growth

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the population trends in major cities in the United States, particularly the Northeast, Midwest, and South regions. It highlights the rebound in population growth for some cities, including Detroit, Michigan, which saw a population increase for the first time in decades. The article also discusses the continued population growth in Southern cities, especially in Texas, as well as the population declines in some of the largest cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Population Trends in Major US Cities

1. What are the key population trends observed in the article?

• The Northeast and Midwest cities are rebounding slightly from years of population drops, with Detroit, Michigan seeing population growth for the first time in decades.
• The South still dominates the nation's growth, with 13 of the 15 fastest-growing cities located in the South, including 8 in Texas.
• Some cities with the greatest growth rates are in exurbs dozens of miles from a metro's downtown core, likely due to rising housing costs and greater opportunities for remote work.
• Large cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago have seen population declines, but the rate of decline has slowed.
• San Francisco, which had been losing residents, actually grew by more than 1,200 residents last year.

2. What factors contributed to the population changes in Detroit?

• Detroit had seen an exodus of people since the 1950s due to suburban white flight, a 1967 race riot, the migration of the Black middle class to the suburbs, and the national economic downturn that led to the city's 2013 bankruptcy filing.
• The population bump in Detroit is the continuation of slow and steady progress and confidence in the city, with the city tackling its massive blight problem by razing over 25,000 houses and renovating 15,000 more.
• The return of auto manufacturers and other companies bringing back jobs has also aided population growth across the 139-square-mile city.

3. What challenges have there been in accurately counting Detroit's population?

• There has been friction between the city of Detroit and the Census Bureau over population estimates, with Detroit suing the Census Bureau over population estimates from 2021 that showed a loss of 7,100 residents.
• Detroit has also challenged the 2020 census data that showed the city with 639,111 residents, while previous estimates put the population at 670,052 residents.
• The Census Bureau acknowledged that a higher percentage of African Americans and Hispanics were undercounted in the 2020 census, and about 77% of Detroit's residents are African American, and Hispanics make up almost 8% of the population.

[02] Population Trends in Other Major US Cities

1. What population trends were observed in other major US cities?

• New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago have seen population declines, but the rate of decline has slowed.
• San Francisco, which had been losing residents, actually grew by more than 1,200 residents last year.
• The top 10 largest cities in the US are: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, and Jacksonville.

2. What factors contributed to the population changes in other major US cities?

• Rising housing costs and greater opportunities for remote work likely played roles in the popularity of exurbs dozens of miles from metro downtown cores.
• The Census Bureau acknowledged that a higher percentage of African Americans and Hispanics were undercounted in the 2020 census, which may have impacted the population figures for cities with large minority populations.