Census 2010: Dearborn's Population Grows by 400

Preliminary 2010 numbers released from the U.S. Census Bureau for Michigan show population drops for the state and the county; Dearborn, however, had a population increase of 378 people.

Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly said he was not surprised by the numbers, despite the fact that 2009 Census estimates predicted that the city's population had dropped to 84,575.

"The census bureau had us with a big loss, but the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments – their job is to … analyze adjustments of census numbers by community, and they do it for six counties in southeast Michigan," O'Reilly explained. "They showed us going up slightly."

O'Reilly said the 2000 Census was a similar scenario for Dearborn. A population downturn was predicted, but the city ended up 8,500 people larger than 1990.

To O'Reilly, a look at Dearborn's public schools is a good indicator.

"What I’ve been saying all along is that it’s tied to the schools," he said. "Ten years ago, they had projected a big loss for Dearborn and I said, ‘No way. Look at our schools – we’re packed.’"

Statewide Ups and Downs

According to the Census Bureau, data for Michigan show that the five most populous incorporated places and their 2010 Census counts are:

• Detroit, 713,777
• Grand Rapids, 188,040
• Warren, 134,056
• Sterling Heights, 129,699
• Lansing, 114,297

Detroit decreased by 25.0 percent since the 2000 Census. Grand Rapids decreased by 4.9 percent, Warren decreased by 3.0 percent, Sterling Heights grew by 4.2 percent, and Lansing decreased by 4.1 percent.

The largest county is Wayne, with a population of 1,820,584. Its population decreased by 11.7 percent since 2000. The other counties in the top five include Oakland, with a population of 1,202,362 (increase of 0.7 percent); Macomb, 840,978 (increase of 6.7 percent); Kent, 602,622 (increase of 4.9 percent); and Genesee, 425,790 (decrease of 2.4 percent).

Dearborn Moves Up

Dearborn's population, according to the 2010 Census count, is 98,153–an increase of .4 percent from 2000's count. Dearborn is now ranked the eighth highest populated city in the state, moving up one spot from 2000. It is also now the second largest city in Wayne County.

Census data also shows that out of the top 20 most populated cities, five saw jumps in their population: Sterling Heights, Dearborn, Troy, Wyoming and Rochester Hills.

O'Reilly said he is happy with Dearborn's numbers.

"It shows stability, which is really a key thing," he said. "It’s, I think, good news for us. We just need to keep working on being a community that people want to be in."

Full 2010 Census statistics for Michigan will be available Wednesday. Check back with Dearborn Patch for more analysis of the numbers.