Census: Northeast Michigan more diverse
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ALPENA -- Mirroring national trends, Northeast Michigan's population sharply diversified over the last 10 years, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Across the U.S., all population gains happened among people of color. The same happened in Northeast Michigan, which diversified faster than the rest of the state.
A sharp fall in the number of residents who identified as white and a steep hike in those who identified as multiracial drove Northeast Michigan's diversification, according to the data.
In the 2020 census, 3,427 people -- or about 6% of the population -- across Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, and Alcona counties identified as a race other than white. That's up from 1,542 people, or just over 2% of the population, who identified as something other than white in the last decennial count.
In other words, the number of people of color in Northeast Michigan shot up 122%. That's a much faster diversification than the 26% increase in the number of people of color across the state.
Still, Northeast Michigan remains largely homogenous, with about 94% of the population identifying as white only in 2020, compared to 74% across the state.
Northeast Michigan's growing diversity has caused some friction, The News reported in a series of stories published in fall 2019.
Click here to check out The News' "Changing Face of Alpena" series from 2019.
While Northeast Michiganders of color interviewed for that series said they'd had mostly positive experiences living here, some said they'd experienced prejudice or discrimination in the region, and many said Northeast Michigan doesn't offer all they need. The region lacks salons capable of caring for Black hair, for example, and lacks a broad selection of cuisine both at restaurants and grocery stores.
The Census Bureau data released Thursday shows Northeast Michigan will have to continue facing those issues.
Those identifying as multiracial make up the biggest minority group in the region.
The four counties picked up a combined 1,769 individuals who identified as multiracial over the last decade, nearly tripling that population. The region also picked up 165 individuals who identified as "some other race" and 12 who identified as Black.
All other ethnic groups declined in number in the region between the 2010 and 2020 counts, including the loss of 4,357 individuals who identified as white only.
Residents self-identify their race to the Census Bureau, so the changes could reflect an influx of people of color to the region and/or an increase in people who previously identified as white now identifying as another race or as mulitracial.
Total population fell across the region, with Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, and Alcona counties losing a combined 2,472 people, or about 4%.
Census data affects how numerous resources flow into a region, such as state and federal funding for infrastructure projects or economic development grants.
Check out the interactive graphic of U.S. Census data below. Story continues below graphic.
Across the country, state legislatures and (as is the case in Michigan) independent redistricting panels will use the data released Thursday to draw new congressional and legislative districts for the 2022 midterm elections.
Those changes could affect who controls Congress and the statehouse.
Michigan will lose one congressional seat in 2022, going from 14 U.S. House seats down to 13. That also means Michigan will lose a vote in the Electoral College, which determines who wins the presidency.
Currently, Democrats control both chambers of Congress and the White House, while Republicans control both chambers of the Michigan Legislature but Democrat Gretchen Whitmer occupies the Michigan Governor's Office.
Northeast Michigan already belongs to massive legislative districts. The loss of a congressional seat and the region's shrinking population means the state's redistricting panel could put the region into even bigger districts. That would mean our state and federal representatives would have even more communities to represent.
Check out the interactive graphic of U.S. Census data below. Story continues below graphic.
Currently, Northeast Michigan belongs to:
* the 1st Congressional District, which covers all of the Upper Peninsula and the northern third of the Lower Peninsula, represented by U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet.
* the 36th state Senate District, which covers Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Gladwin, Iosco, Midland, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle counties, represented by state Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland.
* the 106th state House District, which covers Alcona, Alpena, Iosco, and Presque Isle counties and part of Cheboygan County, represented by state Rep. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine.
* the 105th state House District, which covers Antrim, Charlevoix, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Otsego counties, represented by state Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord.
Critics have questioned the accuracy of the 2020 count, given numerous setbacks caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which struck America just as the count got underway early last year.