[magellan]

Originally Posted by MIEng

As was mentioned above MI is not very diverse. In the SE area I think the most "diverse" cities you can find are probably Troy, Sterling Heights, Canton and maybe West Bloomfield. And I believe they are almost all over 80% white or pretty close. Ann Arbor is also considered "diverse".

Ann Arbor is considered diverse, but it's not. That myth was debunked on this forum a few weeks ago. Ypsilanti, Lansing, Grand Rapids, yes, Ann Arbor, no, it's nearly 80% white.

You'd be hard pressed to find a "diverse" area that's not a "city." Although some suburbs are diverse, like Kentwood near GR, and Okemos near Lansing (maybe?).

[Tex?Il?]

IMO,

SE Michigan is very diverse. Honestly just as diverse as many other major metro areas in the US, its just that people are spread out in SE MI so, people just don't know it. Detroit from the early 20th century through the 1970 was attracting everyone from around the world. Detroit in the 1920s had one of the highest % of foreign born, even higher than Chicago. Although economic stagnation has meant that the area doesn't attract nearly as much immigration it used to:

Metro Detroit is the #2 destination for Arabs/middle easterners over the last ten years(after D.C. I think). #9 destination for eastern Europeans. Somewhat up there for South Asians, as well as Canadians (obviously) Again, within last ten years.

Here is a taste of SE Michigans diversity:

THE largest Arab population in the country. This includes Iraqis, Lebanese, Palestinians, and Yemenis whose community is centered in Dearborn (where they make up around 40% of the population), although spread out throughout the metro areas. Oakland and Macomb counties are more of the center for Chaldeans/Assyrians (Christian Arabs).

Hamtramck, long the major Polish community of metro Detroit (and at one time the largest outside Chicago and Poland) still has some Polish institutions. Although the Polish community largely assimilated and moved to Warren/Sterling Hts, Hamtrack has become one of the larger Bengali communities in the country, in addition to some other eastern Europeans such as Bosnians and Albanians.

SW Michigan like one mentioned is majority Mexican. Drive down Vernor and it is just like you are in the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago.

Oakland County is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the midwest, which used to be centered in Southfield and Oak Park, now centered in West Bloomfield. Jewish-black relations were much better than elsewhere which is why upwardly mobile blacks generally moved into predominantly Jewish suburbs as there wasn't the resistance in Catholic-ethnic communities. Because of this Southfield is home to one of the largest middle class black populations in the midwest. Also in Oakland County is significant Asian communities in Troy and Novi (where they are about 10-15% of the pop. in those communities) Other areas with major Asian population are Ann Arbor and also Windsor, ON). Back in the day there was a Chinatown in the city of Detroit, but thats long gone.

Italians also were attracted to opportunities in the auto industry and settled around the eastern market and moved out along Gratiot out to Macomb County where they are basically all assimilated.

However as everyone knows the Greek community was transformed into a major nightlife and entertainment destination that everyone knows, even though they to largely moved to the suburbs over time, and kept their businesses and restaurants.

Metropolitan Detroit is very diverse, and as long as you like diverse suburban communities, there is plenty here to see.


Heres the thing: the midwest in general is not a region of the country where you find much diversity outside urban areas. If you are fine with major suburban areas as well as major college towns, you can find a compromise.

[MW33]

Look for the highest crime rates, diversity at its finest.

[Sparrow_temp]

Why are you looking for a "diverse" area? Is that a code word for something else? Are you looking for a specific ethnicity or political party affiliation?

People looking for "diversity" usually aren't. They're looking for that specific segment of the population that they fit into so they aren't alone in whatever makes them different from the majority.

[MIEng]

Originally Posted by MW33

Look for the highest crime rates, diversity at its finest.

How come? The most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in SE are Canton, Dearborn, Troy, Sterling Heights among others, and those do not have high crime rates. If you are implying Detroit I think most people will agree that Detroit is not considered culturally and ethnically diverse.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by magellan

Ann Arbor is considered diverse, but it's not. That myth was debunked on this forum a few weeks ago. Ypsilanti, Lansing, Grand Rapids, yes, Ann Arbor, no, it's nearly 80% white.

You'd be hard pressed to find a "diverse" area that's not a "city." Although some suburbs are diverse, like Kentwood near GR, and Okemos near Lansing (maybe?).

East Lansing and the Waverly area of Lansing might work. Ann Arbor is diverse enough, but aspects like volume, ethnicity and percentage come into play.

Small towns and cities like Covert, Albion, Wyoming near GR, Dowagiac, Cassopolis, Three Rivers, Romulus, Belleville and Baldwin might work.

[Indentured Servant]

I think the demographics of Michigan as a whole is less diverse than the nation as a whole. Also, you can have diversity without a lot of integration in a metropolitan area or even a city. So I am not sure if you are looking for a diverse area or an integrated area....or both. Metro Detroit is diverse but not very integrated (whites, blacks, Middle Easterners, Asians ). Contrary to what another poster says, blacks do not self segregate residentially. We intergrate then others seperate from those communities.

I would offer Grand Rapids as a suggestion. Overall its not very diverse or sustainably integrated.....but their are pockets in the area, especially SE, where you can find diversity and integration.....as the area transitions demographically.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by MW33

Look for the highest crime rates, diversity at its finest.

Got any stats to back up that preposterous claim?

[chiroptera]

Originally Posted by MW33

Look for the highest crime rates, diversity at its finest.

The most diverse city I have ever lived in during my lifetime was also one of the lowest-crime cities in the U.S. I live just north of Flint right now, the most violent city in the U.S. and not at all diverse.

So, what is your point?

[Cliffie]

I've read repeatedly that Southfield is the most diverse population in Michigan, but I would say it's neck-and-neck with the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area.