Our region, particularly its western counties, has been an area of substantial population growth over the past decade. The census figures on the left show that nearly every county has experienced substantial population increases, and that the region overall has grown more quickly than the state of Michigan or the nation.

As the map on the right displays, the growth in the numbers of people over the age of 65 has been even more rapid. Due mainly to steady improvement in the life expectancy of the elderly, most counties in our region experienced a small increase in the proportion of their citizens who are over 65. The population is overwhelmingly (98%) Caucasian, with 53% females and 47% males. Approximately 26% of the population is under 18 years of age, and would not have been a respondent to this survey.

To view detailed national census information online, visit the official U.S. Census web site.  Census information for the State of Michigan is available on the Michigan Census 2000 and Michigan Department of Community Health sites.