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What’s often forgotten in politics and governance is municipalities are the creation of state legislatures. A good deal of the population growth in major cities in the second half of the nineteenth century was due to annexation. One of the best examples is New York‘s amazing growth due to annexing Brooklyn. Few people are talking about it but it’s time to consider smaller political units. As Detroit struggles with failure of bankruptcy, the geographical size of the Motor city is becoming a major issue.
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Detroit’s local politicians and special interest groups would obviously fight any changes in geographical boundaries in Michigan’s state legislature because a declining Detroit was a way to plunder taxpayers. But Michigan taxpayers need to start asking themselves: is Detroit’s 143 square miles a viable long term enterprise?
I had not considered that, but if there are people willing to start a municipality and can manage it effectively - why not sell off some of it? If land can be annexed, the opposite is also true.
As an aside, Detroit is the 64th largest city by square miles . Should all cities > Detroit, in terms of square miles, be reduced in size to make them easier to manage?
The three largest cities, in terms of square miles, are in Alaska. The largest city, by square miles, is in Alaska with a population of 2500.
Population matters. Density of population matters. The number of taxpayers matters because they are the source of city income to fund pensions for former employees and any semblance of ongoing essential services.
Hundreds of cities all across the US that once depended on one major employer or industry substantially declined when the employer folded or moved or the industry becomes obsolete.
Detroit's population is about 64% less than it once was more than 50 years ago. Typically what remains are those unable or stubbornly unwilling to relocate for better opportunities or those employed to provide essential services.
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Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
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