Detroit sees population growth for first time since 1957

From CBS News…

Detroit gained 1,852 residents between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, bringing its population to 633,366. The city went for six decades without seeing growth, instead seeing population declines every year since 1958.

“We have known for some time that Detroit’s population has been growing, but this is the first time the US Census Bureau has confirmed it in its official estimate,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. […] Duggan has maintained that the one true measure of success would be whether more people were moving into the city than out of it.

Meanwhile over at the Freep…

Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration publicly fought the federal agency’s count of Detroit residents and sued the Census Bureau multiple times seeking what the city considers accurate figures. He has even described the agency as a “national clown show” for previously reporting a decrease in the city’s population estimates. But new figures show Detroit grew from 631,366 in 2022 to 633,218 residents in 2023, according to the bureau’s annual population estimate released Thursday.

And we can’t forget the News…

“This was the goal of our administration when I started in 2014, to grow,” Duggan told The Detroit News. “It’s taken 10 years, but we’re here. This is a day of celebration.”

Kurt Metzger, a demographer who has studied Detroit extensively and director emeritus of Data Driven Detroit, said that he would estimate that Detroit is closer to 650,000 people, maybe even as high as 660,000. He pointed to increased construction and more as signs of positive change and population growth for the city.

Metzger contended the Census Bureau has undercounted the city for years, in large part because of the way it counts demolitions against population. In many cities, demolitions represent a loss of population. But in Detroit, demolitions often are simply the removal of buildings that have been abandoned for years, Metzger said.

And lastly, from those wiseguys over at !memes…

Tim and Sam

Sam Richardson’s face says it all! 🤣

Alternate links for your convenience via archive.is:

• The Freep: Census Bureau report shows Detroit population increases
• The News: Detroit sees first population growth since 1957; smaller cities see bigger increases

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