Detroit, MI
These communities are leading Metro Detroit’s population growth
The Asian American and Hispanic communities in Metro Detroit grew significantly over the last half-decade, helping to fuel a small boost in Michigan’s population, newly released Census Bureau data shows.
The Asian American populations of Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties jumped 8% from 2023 to 2024, the most of any ethnic group. The number of Hispanic residents in Macomb and Oakland counties has increased by more than 10% since 2020.
The latest Census Bureau release contains county-level data on age, race and sex across all U.S. states and Puerto Rico through July 1, 2024. It uses an adjusted version of the 2020 decennial census and updated information on births, deaths and migration.
Census data released earlier this year showed that Michigan’s population grew more in 2024 than it had in several decades, driven in large part by immigration to Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Those three counties grew by more than 30,000 residents. Michigan’s population increased by 57,000 residents in 2024 to 10.14 million due solely to immigration growth.
State Rep. Ranjeev Puri, a Canton Township Democrat who represents part of Wayne County, called the new demographic numbers “exciting news.”
“The ethnic diversity of Michigan is one of the strong suits,” Puri said.
Puri, the Michigan House Democratic leader, is the highest-ranking South Asian official in the state, as well as the first person of color to represent his district.
He said it is important to remember the “rich diversity” of the many Asian American communities across the state. “All of that woven into Michigan makes it a much better place,” Puri said.
Canton Township, which makes up most of Puri’s district, has experienced “a tremendous amount of growth” in recent years, particularly among communities of color, he said. The community of 99,873 residents is 62% White, nearly 20% Asian, 10% Black and 4.5% Hispanic, according to the Census Bureau.
Puri said he takes the responsibility to represent these constituents seriously. “My goal is to make sure that every community has representation,” he said.
Lex Zavala, who has spent 22 years serving the Latino community in Metro Detroit with the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, said the growth in immigrant populations helps communities thrive.
When Zavala, now the DHDC’s interim executive director, was growing up in southwest Detroit, most of the Latino population did not speak Spanish.
That all changed when he was a teenager. The arrival of Mexican and Central American immigrants “influenced our community in a way that it grew, it blossomed…,” he said.
The neighborhood, to Zavala, represents “an example of what happens when immigrants are allowed to dream and grow.”
The growth of Latino communities in Oakland and Macomb counties can be attributed to a combination of recent waves of Venezuelan and Colombian immigrants and upwardly mobile Hispanic families from neighboring areas, said Elias Gutiérrez, founder and publisher of The Latino Press, a Spanish-language weekly newspaper in Detroit.
Osvaldo “Ozzie” Rivera, a longtime community organizer and musician who teaches Afro-Latino history and culture at Wayne State University, said a strong Latino community has existed in places like River Rouge and Highland Park since the first half of the 20th century.
Rivera has worked to document the long history of Latino organizers and musicians in the Detroit area.
“If you don’t know the past, you don’t know the present,” he said.
Zavala’s work at the DHDC has adapted to meet the needs of a more spread-out community.
“We’re just following where our community goes, making sure they’re really receiving the services they need,” he said.
The DHDC runs programs teaching English with a vocational focus to help immigrants who were professionals in their home country get licensed in the United States. The organization also helps community members start businesses and buy their first homes.
“A lot of people that come are coming with their green cards, refugee citizenships — they’re able to have their Social Security numbers, purchase homes, start businesses,” Zavala said.
Recent immigration crackdowns by the Trump administration have cast a shadow on Latino communities across the Metro area, he said.
“The Latino population is scared to go out. It’s almost back to COVID lockdown,” Zavala said.
And immigrant-run businesses have suffered, he said: “Our business district is empty now. Restaurants and construction can’t find enough workers to fill their space.”
President Donald Trump campaigned on the promise of mass deportations, starting with immigrant criminals who are in the country illegally but also deporting others who are found to be in the country illegally.
As Latino communities outside of southwest Detroit continue to expand, however, Zavala was optimistic.
“I think for the majority, people understand that these are hardworking people that are coming here to build the American Dream just like previous immigrant populations,” he said.
bwarren@detroitnews.com
What is Newlab?
Originally founded in Brooklyn, Newlab provides tech startups with a place to develop their products and expand their manufacturing capabilities. Located in the Albert Khan-designed former Detroit Public Schools Book Depository building in Corktown, Newlab Detroit is the venture platform’s second development center. The 270,000-squarefoot facility opened in 2023 and is situated within the 30-acre Michigan Central Innovation District. Newlab Detroit attracts global and local startups like metro Detroit’s Sharrow Marine, which makes advanced propellers.
“Detroit is still the best place in the world to make anything,” says Greg Sharrow, founder and CEO of Sharrow Marine. “It’s incredible that Michigan Central and Newlab exist here and that inventors are able to take advantage of those resources.”
How can a business become a member at Newlab Detroit?
More than 100 companies apply for Newlab Detroit residency every year, making membership an exclusive commodity. While membership is not restricted to hard-tech startups, the space is primarily designed to accommodate them. If an application is accepted, the monthly membership cost is $250.
What does Newlab Detroit provide members?
In addition to a fl oating desk, one of the biggest advantages Newlab o ers is access to the workshop. There, members can learn how to use state-ofthe- art technology that would otherwise be too costly for a startup to purchase. Other perks include access to Newlab’s manufacturing network and community of investors.
How many startups operate out of Newlab Detroit?
Currently, a blend of more than 100 local, national, and global companies operate out of Newlab Detroit. International startups currently make up roughly 15% of the community.
What kinds of products come out of Newlab Detroit?
The products developed at Newlab are as diverse as the people who create them. Technologies range from body temperature-reactive heating and cooling tiles to underwater robots designed to prevent water main breaks.
This story originally appeared in the June 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition
Emerging as the PWHL’s Defender of the Year made Tuesday night a special one for Megan Keller. Doing so in her hometown made it doubly so.Keller, a Farmington Hills native, earned recognition as the PWHL’s top blueliner this season with the Boston Fleet during a ceremony at One Campus Martius. She recorded 22 points in 30 games in addition to her stout defense.
“It’s an incredible honor,” Keller said. “Obviously, though, it’s a reflection of the team. I’ve got such great teammates. My D partner, also up for the award, Haley Winn.
“And goaltending Aerin Frankel, MVP, one of the best goalies in the world — makes my job super easy, and it was just so fun to come to the rink every day. We had such a special group, so to be a part of that, I’m just really thankful.”Winn earned Rookie of the Year, and Boston Fleet coach Kris Sparre earned Coach of the Year in his first campaign at the helm. He’s on to PWHL Hamilton next year, one of four expansion teams alongside Detroit. He had high praise for Keller, particularly for her athleticism and skill set. “I’ve said this before, and I’m sure this will ruffle some feathers from players that I’ve coached in the past, but she’s hands down my favorite professional athlete that I’ve coached in my 11 years,” Sparre said. “She deserves all the accolades that she gets.”
Keller’s name may ring a bell for her Olympic heroics, particularly February’s nifty move she used to score the golden goal for Team USA over Canada in the Milano-Cortina games. That’s the 30-year-old’s second Olympic gold medal of her career.Keller has also been a major proponent of expanding women’s hockey in Michigan, through both the creation of a varsity team at the University of Michigan and through a PWHL team. Fans who chanted “we want a team” at Little Caesars Arena will get their wish this year. Keller is ecstatic.“I’m so happy for the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan,” Keller said. “I think they’ve deserved a team for a long time.“I’ve gotten the opportunity to come back and play in the takeover tour games here at LCA, and the crowd that showed up, all the girls that were in the stands — I was a youth hockey player just like them growing up in all these rinks across Michigan.
“And for them to have a women’s professional team and role models to look up to every single night is going to be huge for them. I thought I was going to play on the Red Wings growing up, and to see their role models each and every day and know that they have a dream that can turn it into reality — it’s super special, and I’m so excited for what’s to come for them.”cearegood@detroitnews.com
@ConnorEaregood
J.T. Compher and Jesse Compher are the first NHL/PWHL siblings to play in the same city.
J.T. Compher and Jesse Compher are the first NHL/PWHL siblings to play in the same city.
Activities are planned throughout metro Detroit this week to celebrate the federal holiday known as Juneteenth, which marks Black Americans’ freedom from slavery.
On June 19, 1865, institutionalized slavery ended in Texas, the last state where it remained two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The date officially became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, credited largely to the activist Opal Lee, known as the grandmother of Juneteenth.
Here is a sampling of events planned to mark the event this week:
∎ Wednesday, June 17
Juneteenth jazz & blues concert: An evening of jazz and blues in honor of the celebration of Juneteenth. Hosted by the Friends of the Southfield Public Library, in the library meeting room, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 26300 Evergreen Road, Southfield. More information here.
∎ Thursday, June 18
Juneteenth Family Paint Party: Children ages 5+ and their caregivers can join artist Candace Dove in the family-friendly activity of creating Juneteenth paintings at the Detroit Public Library Bowen branch. All supplies will be provided, and registration is required. Runs from 6-7 p.m. Event is at 3648 Vernor Highway, Detroit. More information here.
∎ Friday, June 19
“Juneteenth at Wilson: The stories of us,” sponsored by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, will celebrate “the complexity of the American story” with music, dance, art and interactive activities on June 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free, family-friendly event takes place at Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park at 1801 W. Jefferson in Detroit. The event, presented by Huron-Clinton Metroparks, has a storytelling theme that encourages attendees to share stories that celebrate the freedom Juneteenth represents. More info here.
Juneteenth Forever Detroit parade and celebration, 9 am-1 p.m. June 19, starting at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 2080 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit. End point is at the Joseph Walker Williams Recreation Center, 8431 Rosa Parks Boulevard, Detroit. Admission is free. More info here.
Juneteenth at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: The museum celebrates freedom of enslaved African Americans through commemorative ceremonies, silent disco yoga, cultural performances, educational workshops, and film.10 am- 5 p.m. June 19. Free, Wright Museum, 315 East Warren Avenue, Detroit. More information here.
Hart Plaza Juneteenth Block Party: This daylong block party is all-ages and family-friendly, consisting of art displays, activities, food, musical performances, and creative vendors. Runs noon-5 p.m.; ticketed concerts including Fetty Wap and Kash Doll start after 5 p.m., Hart Plaza. More info here.
Ypsilanti’s annual Juneteenth celebration: Ypsilanti hosts its annual Juneteenth Celebration over three days in the downtown area, June 19-21. Event includes community organizations, live performances, local vendors, and a kids’ corner. Times vary. More info here.
∎ Saturday, June 20
Freedom Festival at Rouge Park: Free festival fun with food trucks, vendors, bounce houses, face painting, and haircuts, along with live performances such as African drumming, dancing, music, storytelling, poetry, and more. 12-4 p.m. June 20. Free. Rouge Park (Joy & Spinoza Green space). More information here.
athomas@detroitnews.com
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