[ForStarters]

Originally Posted by timeofseasons

I have read several comments about a migration from Grand Rapids to Ann ARbor which is simply not true. Ann Arbor has been losing population the past several years and growing in poverty.

Neither Grand Rapids or Ann Arbor is growing. Both will likely have lost population since 2000. Grand Rapids will probably be around 190-195k in the 2010 census, and Ann Arbor will probably be around 110-112k. If anything, GR's and A2's populations have been relatively stable, at least compared to Flint, Lansing, and Detroit. Seeing as Michigan as a whole is bleeding people like crazy, keeping a somewhat stable population should be viewed as an accomplishment.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Indentured Servant

Actually its the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Nothing has to be redrawn. When commutting patterns change....then so do the numbers and whose included. The Holland Area fell off due to commuting patterns falling off. If think something like 15 or 20% of Hollands population has to commute on a daily bases to Kent county for work or culture to be considered part of Grand Rapids metro. However, as Ottawa county offers its residents more jobs, more shopping, more culture...they have less reason to commute to kent County. The same is true of Muskegon County.

Holland is actually looking at petitioning to be included back again in the GR MSA. I've seen the commuting numbers "tweaked" to include counties that wouldn't normally be counted (but for political clout).

Other than that though, the population loss was so relatively small (.6%) that I don't see any MSA redrawing any time soon.

In regards to MittenDweller82, I haven't heard of any mass migration from Grand Rapids to Ann Arbor. Based on census estimates, I'm guessing GR's city population will be about the same as 2000, maybe down 1000 or so to 197,000 or 196,000. Metro will be up for sure from the 2000 population of 740,000, probably to around 785,000, even with the slowdown in the last couple of years.

[timeofseasons]

Originally Posted by ForStarters

Neither Grand Rapids or Ann Arbor is growing. Both will likely have lost population since 2000. Grand Rapids will probably be around 190-195k in the 2010 census, and Ann Arbor will probably be around 110-112k. If anything, GR's and A2's populations have been relatively stable, at least compared to Flint, Lansing, and Detroit. Seeing as Michigan as a whole is bleeding people like crazy, keeping a somewhat stable population should be viewed as an accomplishment.

The Lansing metro, and Ingham county population has increased.

[charlesbarkley]

Obviously these numbers are estimates, or just plain wrong.

Is Battle Creek part of the Kalamazoo Metro? Because I'm curious as to how Jackson, such a small city could have a metropolitan area that large, and Battle Creek to the west, a much larger and important city, is not mentioned in the largest metros.

[DuckCommander]

Kalamzoo... But if I had to pick out of the entire state I'd go for Marquette or Traverse City...

[timeofseasons]

Traverse City and Marquette are nice, but to live year around it is just too small.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by timeofseasons

Detroit- 4,403,437
Grand Rapids- 778,009
Lansing- 453,603
Flint- 443,883
Ann Arbor- 322,895
Kalamazoo- 323,713
Holland- 261,957

Suprised to see Flint metro still highly populated. Also suprising to know that Holland has a much more populated metro than Jackson ( Jackson metro estimated around 160,000).

Comments? Which would you rather reside in?

Of the 7 listed....I'd live in Metro Detroit, just because it has everything, and it's the biggest.

Lansing...I lived there for a year when I was young. I liked it. I liked MSU and that the State Capitol is right there.

Ann Arbor...everyone like's AA...unless they 'hate them liberals'...otherwise there is a lot to like there. I like AA too.

Holland...I think it would be too small for me, but I have a good memory of driving through it with the window rolled down, and smelling that 'Great Lakes' air, and never forgot that smell.

I would never live in Flint or anywhere near it.

Grand Rapids seems very popular to people from there. From time to time, I reseach the possibility of looking more into that city, but something always puts me off it - I can't define what that is though.

Kalamazoo...I've always liked the name. I am familiar with it, as some of my relatives like around there, but it's a little small.