Michigan

Census report: Immigration driving growth across Michigan; Metro Detroit rebounded in 2024

Published

10 months ago

March 13, 2025

Census report: Immigration driving growth across Michigan; Metro Detroit rebounded in 2024

Washington — Foreign immigration across the state buoyed Michigan’s best-in-decades population growth last year, according to federal data released Thursday.

In a year when the Michigan population increased by about 57,000 (or 0.6%), all but one of the state’s 83 counties saw increases in their number of foreign-born residents. The only one that did not — Arenac County— had zero net change in that metric.

The state also saw significant growth in Metro Detroit to eclipse losses from the previous year, continued growth in the Grand Rapids area and limited population decline in rural areas. Altogether, the data release presents a mostly positive report card for Michigan as it continues a concerted effort to grow its population by retaining residents, attracting new ones and stemming losses from deaths exceeding births.

“The news is good right now,” said Kurt Metzger, a demographer and director emeritus of Data Driven Detroit. But he urged officials at every level of government across the state to continue working on the issue.

“Yes, the population went up between ’23 and ’24. Wasn’t that wonderful? And we all benefited. But don’t get cocky, because it could go down tomorrow,” he said in a phone interview.

Previous Census data showed that Michigan’s population reached a historic high of 10.1 million in 2024, keeping Michigan as the 10th most populous state. The new county-level data shed light on more specific details of that growth and show that Michigan’s population trends were consistent with national ones.

“Increasingly, population growth in metro areas is being shaped by international migration,” said Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. “While births continue to contribute to overall growth, rising net international migration is offsetting the ongoing net domestic outmigration we see in many of these areas.”

Metro Detroit’s Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties — all of which have concentrated pockets of immigrant, largely Arab-American populations — accounted for three of the top four spots in total population growth from July 2023 to July 2024. Combined, those counties grew by more than 30,600 people.

Metzger pointed out that Wayne County, which grew by almost 8,700 people, had its first population gain since the early 1990s.

The new data release also reflects significant revisions to population estimates from past years, mostly due to the Census Bureau expanding how it measures immigration. The revisions were especially significant for Metro Detroit. Original estimates for Wayne County, for example, suggested a population loss of nearly 8,000 people between 2022 and 2023. That loss is now estimated at 640.

After Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids-area Kent and Ottawa counties were the next biggest hub for growth last year with a combined increase of more than 10,500 residents. Three other counties (Washtenaw, Ingham and Kalamazoo) had population jumps of more than 1,000.

Nat Zorach, who teaches at Michigan State University’s School of Planning, Design and Construction, said the growth for Kent, Washtenaw and Ingham counties could be an early sign of success for local zoning changes that encourage more new housing construction and conversion of single-family homes into multi-unit properties.

He noted that local governments in Grand Rapids (Kent), Ann Arbor (Washtenaw) and Lansing (Ingham) have all pursued zoning reforms in recent years.

In total, 55 counties saw population increases, 27 saw declines and one (Iosco) had net zero growth. Notably, no county lost more than 163 people. Zorach suggested that the relative steadiness of populations in more rural counties could be due to post-pandemic lifestyle trends.

“I think that there is an attractiveness to small-town life that is probably substantially driven by the fact that it’s cheap to live there,” he said in a phone interview. Zorach also noted that there has been a years-long trend of county populations centralizing in the area’s largest municipality.

“Tiny towns get smaller, but the county seat might grow in a small amount,” he said.

Metzger, however, warned that population watchers should not take too much from last year’s data. “There is a stabilization, but I would hesitate saying that this is a trend,” he said. “The rural areas have been able to hold on. I just worry about where they go next.”

He recalled speaking to a group of rural hospital administrators in Michigan several years ago about their institutions’ long-term viability. “I asked if they were part of any countywide or multi-county efforts around populations, and they were like deer in the headlights,” the demographer said.

The Growing Michigan Together Council, a group convened by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that spent five months in 2023 strategizing on how to boost the state’s population, did not include many specific recommendations or plans for rural areas. The word “rural” appears three times in the 86-page report.

That report mostly focused on improving Michigan’s education system, encouraging business innovation and addressing housing and infrastructure deficiencies across the state. It also called immigration a “bright spot hidden in Michigan’s current population trend.”

While international immigration contributed to growth across Michigan last year, domestic population indicators were still negative — albeit less so than in past years.

Census data released in December showed that deaths, while decreasing from the previous year, still exceeded births in Michigan last year by 2,855. In total, 72 of Michigan’s 83 counties saw more births than deaths, according to the Census Bureau, or just shy of 88% of counties.

But there were some pockets of what demographers call natural growth, defined as births exceeding deaths.

Kent County had the strongest natural growth last year, followed by Wayne County. The largest natural decline was in Genesee County, home to Flint.

Across the state, net domestic migration losses fell by more than half from the previous year, dropping from -17,446 to -7,656. Net domestic migration refers to the number of people who left Michigan for another U.S. state minus the number of people who moved to Michigan from another state.

“That just shows the importance that immigration plays in Michigan’s future,” Metzger said.

gschwab@detroitnews.com

@GrantSchwab

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Michigan

What time is Michigan basketball’s game vs Wisconsin today? TV, stream

Published

5 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

What time is Michigan basketball’s game vs Wisconsin today? TV, stream

Michigan basketball finally got tested last game for this first time in almost two months.

Ever since a tough win on the road at TCU on Nov. 14, the Wolverines have been absolutely steamrolling everyone on their schedule. But Penn State finally offered some resistance that Michigan just hasn’t been seeing.

In Michigan’s third true road game of the season, the Wolverines were pushed to the brink in University Park, Pennsylvania, as the Nittany Lions found a way to keep it close without their leading scorer, freshman Kayden Mingo, who was scratched just before the game.

Michigan led by as much as 15 in the second half against the Nittany Lions, but Penn State just kept chipping away. Ultimately it came down to a final shot for Penn State’s Freddie Dilione V, who seemingly lost track of the clock and was forced to jack up a prayer that didn’t go in. As they say, an ugly win is better than an ugly loss, especially for a Michigan team who has been nearly flawless in every other game.

On Saturday, the Wolverines will return to the friendly confines of the Crisler Center for an early afternoon tipoff against the Wisconsin Badgers (CBS, 1 p.m.) for a chance to get back to the dominant style they were playing before.

Here’s what you need to know for Michigan’s game against Wisconsin on Saturday:

What channel is Michigan basketball vs Wisconsin

Michigan basketball will face Wisconsin in a nationally televised game on CBS.

How to stream Michigan vs Wisconsin basketball

Michigan basketball vs Wisconsin start time today

Date: Saturday, Jan. 10.
Time: 1 p.m. ET.
Where: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor.

Michigan basketball schedule 2025-26 next 5 games

Find the Wolverines’ full 2025-26 schedule.

Saturday, Jan. 10: Wisconsin, 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
Wednesday, Jan. 14: at Washington, 10:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network.
Saturday, Jan. 17: at Oregon, 4 p.m. ET, NBC.
Tuesday, Jan. 20: Indiana, 7 p.m. ET, Peacock.
Friday, Jan. 23: Ohio State, 8 p.m., Fox.

Michigan vs Wisconsin prediction

Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: Morez Johnson Jr.’s early foul trouble against Penn State was a big factor in that close finish; as deep as U-M is, it does not have a replacement for his motor and ability to switch on defense. Presumably, that narrow win was a wakeup call for Michigan, and while it’s hard to expect the Wolverines to beat teams by 30 or 40 a night, this one could be lopsided by the end. The pick: U-M 92, Wisconsin 73.

Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

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Butler WR transfer Braydon Alford commits to Michigan football

Published

17 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Butler WR transfer Braydon Alford commits to Michigan football

Butler wide receiver transfer Braydon Alford, the son of Michigan offensive run game coordinator and running backs coach Tony Alford, has committed to U-M under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, he announced on social media Friday evening.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Dublin, Ohio, native didn’t appear in any games in his two seasons at Butler and has three years of eligibility remaining.

From Alford’s bio while at Butler: “Set his school’s single-season receptions record with 90 catches during his senior year… Had 1,487 all-purpose yards that year and scored 10 touchdowns… Named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-District and Third-Team All-State as a senior… Team captain… Had an outstanding game against Hilliard Bradley in Week 5 which included 14 catches for 195 yards and three touchdowns.”
Alford entered the transfer portal earlier this week and quickly became a Michigan commit.
Whittingham took the Michigan job Dec. 26 and quickly built his staff. One of three holdovers on the group of assistant coaches was Tony Alford, who’s entering his third season in Ann Arbor. Whittingham had a previous connection with Tony Alford’s family.
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“Tremendous football coach. I was blessed to have at Utah, his brother, Aaron Alford, before he passed away, worked for us for several years,” Whittingham said at his introductory press conference. “So I know the Alford family. Great family. Tony, I got a ton of respect for him and we’ll see how things work out in that direction.”
Alford was an unranked recruit out of Dublin (Ohio) Jerome.

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Applications for spring turkey season in Michigan is open through Feb. 1. What to know

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Applications for spring turkey season in Michigan is open through Feb. 1. What to know

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources opened applications through Feb. 1 for Michigan’s spring turkey season.

Officials say there are some changes to the 2026 season, such as the number of turkey management units, which are designated areas open to hunters.

“These regulation changes uphold the goals for the spring turkey hunting season: maximizing hunter opportunity while also maintaining satisfactory hunting experiences across the state,” said Adam Bump, DNR upland game bird specialist.

Here’s what to know about licenses for the upcoming turkey season. For more information on other regulations, visit the DNR’s website.

How much do the applications cost?

Turkey season applications cost $5 each and are available online on the DNR’s website, at any license agent or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

A map of license agents is available online.

Who is eligible to apply?

Hunters aged 17 and older during the hunting period are eligible to apply for a license as long as they have a hunter education certificate or an apprentice license.

Anyone between the ages of 10 and 16 can purchase a turkey youth license. Anyone age 9 and under can participate through a mentored hunting program to receive a license. Youth turkey licenses are valid for all three management units and season dates.

Where and when can I hunt?

In 2026, the DNR announced that it had reduced the turkey management unit from 14 to three — Upper Peninsula, northern Lower Peninsula and southern Lower Peninsula. The units also determine the type of license hunters can obtain and when they can hunt.

View a map of the turkey management units below:

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

A Hunt 0110 license is for the Upper Peninsula, with an April 18-May 31 hunting season. Hunt 0134 license is valid for the northern Lower Peninsula and is available from April 18 to May 1. The Hunt 0302 license is available for the southern Lower Peninsula from April 18 to May 1. A Hunt 0303 license is also available for the Southern Lower Peninsula (May 2-31).

These licenses have a limited number available.

Other licenses include Hunt 0234, which is for statewide (April 25-May 31), and Hunt 0301, which is for private land (April 18-May 31). Hunt 0234 is valid on private and public lands in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula, but private only in the southern Lower Peninsula, as well as Fort Custer military lands, with permission.

How can I get a license?

Hunters who apply for a license are entered into a random drawing system. The drawing results are available on March 2.

The Hunt 0234 license (statewide) and Hunt 0301 license (private land) do not require people to enter a drawing. These licenses can be purchased beginning at 10 a.m. on March 16. Hunters can check their drawing results online or on the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

“These changes will give hunters longer seasons and bigger units to hunt in,” said Bump.

Anyone who is not selected in the drawing can purchase a leftover license beginning at 10 a.m. on March 9. Anyone who did not enter the drawing can purchase a leftover license on March 16.

How many licenses are available?

There is a 6,000-license quota for Hunt 0110 (Upper Peninsula), an 18,000-license quota for Hunt 0134 (northern Lower Peninsula), a 6,000-license quota for Hunt 0302 (southern Lower Peninsula April season) and an 8,000-license quota for Hunt 0303 (southern Lower Peninsula May season).

Hunt 0234 (statewide) and Hunt 0301 (private land) licenses are unlimited.