Appendix A

Census 2000

GLOSSARY

Group quarters The living arrangement for people not living in a household. The census divides group quarters into two types: institutional (e.g., corrections facilities, nursing homes, and mental hospitals) and noninstitutional (e.g., college dormitories, military barracks, group homes, missions, and shelters).

Household The living arrangement whereby one or more persons live in a given housing unit. The census divides households into two types: family (consisting of two people related by blood, marriage, or adoption and perhaps children) and nonfamily (consisting of one person or two or more unrelated people).

Median The middle value in a distribution that divides the distribution exactly in half; for example, the median age in Michigan is 35.5 years, which means that one-half of the population is younger and one-half is older.

BACKGROUND

[APRIL 1, 2002] Unless otherwise noted, the data presented are from the 2000 Census or the Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS).

The U.S. Constitution, Article I, requires that every ten years the federal government conduct a census of the nation's population. The census serves several purposes, one of which is to allocate the 435 seats of the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states. Another is to establish the basis for distributing funding for many federal programs (more than $100 billion annually) as well as state programs. Census figures also are used for planning; for example, new highways are built and fire protection districts established on the basis of current and projected population. In addition, there are numerous provisions in law pertaining to the population of local jurisdictions.

Because the census has a significant effect on federal funding to the states, there is great concern that the count be as accurate as possible. In 1990 more than five million people are believed to have been missed, many the traditionally underserved minority and homeless populations. To correct this in 2000, the Census Bureau proposed to statistically sample areas with lower-than-average response rates, but the proposal was denied by Congress and ruled out by the U.S. Supreme Court. To try to improve the count in 2000, the bureau, for the first time, used a professional advertising campaign, spending $167 million to encourage participation. Although the precise over- and undercounts are not yet known, the census is thought to have been successful. Michigan's response rate was 71 percent, down slightly from 72 percent in 1990. Nationwide, the response rate was 67 percent, up from 61 percent in 1990. The counting errors that occurred in 2000 are not expected to be problematic for either Michigan or the nation.

The 2000 Census found significant change in the Michigan population since the 1990 count, and there are many implications for residents and both public- and private-sector policymakers. Presented here are the changes we believe to be among the most relevant. Implications are discussed elsewhere in this book, in the pieces addressing specific topics.

POPULATION

According to Census 2000, Michigan's population is 9,938,444, up 6.9 percent since 1990. This growth is significantly higher than the 0.4 percent growth in the 1980s and the 4.3 percent growth in the 1970s, yet far under the current national growth estimate of 13.2 percent.

• The median Michigan household income is $43,448, ranking it 17th in the country; the national median is $41,343.
• Fifty-one percent of Michigan's population are female; 49 percent are male.

Exhibits 1 and 2 present data on Michigan age and racial/ethnic distribution, respectively. The largest age group consists of 35–44-year-olds, and the largest racial group comprises Caucasians.

The Center for Urban Studies at Wayne State University reports that nine of Michigan's 83 counties lost population. All but one of the nine, Iosco, are central urban counties (Bay, Saginaw, Ingham, Wayne) and rural western Upper Peninsula counties (Gogebic, Iron, Marquette, Ontonogan). The population loss in Iosco, a northeastern lower peninsula county, is attributable to closure of a military base. The largest gains in population are seen in southern Michigan, particularly the Detroit suburban ring, and Kent County.

• Livingston County led all Michigan counties in percentage of growth, expanding by more than 35 percent since the 1990 count.
• Oakland County led all counties in the number of people gained—more than 110,000 (10.2 percent growth).
• Among metropolitan counties that lost population, Wayne County suffered most, losing 50,000 people (a 2.4 percent decrease).
• Detroit, with 951,270 residents, lost 7.5 percent of its population; this is the smallest decline since the city began shrinking in the 1950s, but it brings the city below one million, the threshold for several funding and taxing-authority laws.

REAPPORTIONMENT

One reason for the decennial census is to reapportion the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Because Michigan's population grew less than was the case in some other states, Michigan has lost one seat in the House. Each of four other Great Lakes States—Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin—also lost one seat (only Minnesota retained all its seats). This reflects the larger population shift away from the Midwest and Northeast to the West and South. This reduced congressional representation means reduced influence over the federal matters and money that affect Michigan and the region.

The census also is the basis for reapportioning the Michigan Legislature and state appeals court. Thirty of the 110 Michigan House districts were redrawn; most affected are districts representing Detroit and Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties. Representation follows population: As people move from core cities to the suburbs, representation—and political power—follows. All but one of the Michigan Senate districts were redrawn, but because these districts are much larger than the House districts, the political effect of reapportionment is not as significant. The boundaries of all four state court of appeals districts also were redrawn, to equalize the population among them.

FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

Michigan has more than three million households, of which 68 percent are family households. Of the family households,

• 33 percent have dependent children present;
• 51 percent are headed by married couples, and 45 percent of these households (1.2 million) have dependent children present; and
• 13 percent are headed by females, and 60 percent of these (roughly 284,000) have dependent children present.

In looking at Michigan youth (under age 18), we see that

• in the 1990s the youth population grew by 5.6 percent, to upwards of 2.5 million;
• due to the declining birth rate in the 1990s, there was a 4.3 percent drop in the number of children aged under five; and
• in the 1990s the number of Michigan children living below the poverty level dropped slightly, from 19 percent in 1990 to 14 percent (an estimated 350,000) in 2000.

According to a report by Kids Count in Michigan, Census 2000 data reveal important changes in the living arrangements of Michigan's children during the 1990s. As Exhibit 3 shows, the biggest change is in the proportion of children who live with their single father. The proportion of children living with their single mother increased the least, and the proportion of children living with two married parents decreased.

SENIOR CITIZENS

• Michigan's population is aging.
• In 1990 Michigan's median age was 32.6 years; now it is 35.5, and by 2020 it is expected to be 37.9.
• More than one million people (12.3 percent of the total population) are aged 65 and older in Michigan; this is a 10 percent increase from 1990.
• The oldest Michiganians (85 and older) are growing in number as well and at a faster rate than other age groups. There now are nearly 142,500 in this age group (1.4 percent of the total population), a 33.3 percent increase from 1990.

CORRECTIONS

In 2000, according to census figures, there were 65,330 adults and youth in Michigan jails and prisons (about two-thirds in state prisons); this is a 53 percent increase over 10 years ago. This far outpaces the growth rate (6.9 percent) of the general population.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

According to a 2001 report prepared by the Legislative Service Bureau, there are 340 sections of law, encompassing 58 major subject areas, in Michigan statute that classify and grant authority to local governments based on the unit's population. These statutes are tied to 129 different population figures, which means that census 2000 results are greatly affecting the applicability of certain laws. Of particular concern are laws relating to the allocation of funds (e.g., revenue sharing, highway monies) and the authority to levy or raise taxes and fees.

As mentioned above, Detroit's population has fallen below one million, which is the authority threshold in certain tax laws. Whether this will negate the city's authority to levy certain taxes and fees is unclear and could be decided in the courts or by legislative action.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Center for Urban Studies
Wayne State University
656 West Kirby, 3040 F/AB
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-2208
(313) 577-1274 FAX
http://www.cus.wayne.edu

Citizen's Research Council of Michigan
38777 Six Mile Road, Suite 201A
Livonia, MI 48152
(734) 542-8001
(734) 542-8004 FAX
and
1502 Michigan National Tower
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 485-9444
(517) 485-0423 FAX
http://www.crcmich.org

Michigan Information Center (Center for Geographic Information)
Romney Building, 10th Floor
111 South Capitol Avenue
P.O. Box 30026
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-7910
(517) 373-2939 FAX
www.michigan.gov/cgi

U.S. Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov

CONTENT CURRENT AS OF APRIL 1, 2002
© 2002 Public Sector Consultants, Inc.
Sponsored by the Michigan Nonprofit Association and the Council of Michigan Foundations
www.michiganinbrief.org