ALLEGAN COUNTY
Allegan County’s population increased by 29.6 percent between 1980 and 2000 to reach a total of 105,665 (Table 1). Region 8’s population increased by 31.9 percent during the same 20-year period to reach 1,104,848. Both the Region and Allegan County grew at a much greater rate than Michigan as-a-whole, which increased by 7.3 percent. Projections indicate Allegan County’s population will continue to grow and by 2020 will reach 144,266. 2003 Census estimates show the County’s population increased to 110,331, which is a 4.4 percent increase over three years. Projections indicate Region 8’s population will reach 1,564,894 by 2020.
Table 1 – Population Trends & Projections
|
|
Trends |
Projections |
||||
|
1980 |
1990 |
2000 |
% Change |
2010 |
2020 |
|
|
Allegan County |
81,555 |
92,557 |
105,665 |
29.6 |
122,993 |
144,266 |
|
Region 8 |
837,655 |
948,502 |
1,104,848 |
31.9 |
1,304,955 |
1,564,894 |
|
Michigan |
9,262,078 |
9,295,277 |
9,938,444 |
7.3 |
--- |
--- |
Source: U.S. Census of Population, WMRPC
Allegan County’s age distribution (Table 2) is similar to Michigan’s and Region 8’s distribution. The County’s median age is identical to Michigan’s median age of 35.5 and slightly higher than Region 8’s median of 33.0. The County’s only age groups that fall outside of the two comparison groups’ ranges include the 5-17 group, which is slightly higher; the 18-24 group, which is lower; the 25-34 group, which is lower; and the 35-44 group, which is higher. The distribution of males and females in Allegan County nearly equal – which is slightly unusual since communities usually tend to have more women due to the fact that they have a longer life expectancy.
Table 2 – Age and Gender Distribution in 2000
|
|
Allegan County |
Region 8 |
Michigan |
||
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
% |
|
|
Under 5 |
7,648 |
7.2 |
82,502 |
7.5 |
6.8 |
|
5-17 |
22,847 |
21.6 |
227,217 |
20.6 |
19.4 |
|
18-24 |
8,443 |
8.0 |
118,976 |
10.8 |
9.4 |
|
25-34 |
13,585 |
12.9 |
155,563 |
14.1 |
13.7 |
|
35-44 |
18,143 |
17.2 |
178,107 |
16.1 |
16.1 |
|
45-54 |
14,379 |
13.6 |
140,517 |
12.7 |
13.8 |
|
55-64 |
8,895 |
8.4 |
84,295 |
7.6 |
8.7 |
|
65-84 |
10,346 |
9.8 |
102,745 |
9.3 |
10.9 |
|
85 and over |
1,379 |
1.3 |
14,926 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
|
Median Age |
35.5 |
--- |
33.0 |
--- |
35.5 |
|
Male |
52,782 |
50.0 |
549,101 |
49.7 |
49.0 |
|
Female |
52,833 |
50.0 |
555,747 |
50.3 |
51.0 |
|
Total |
105,665 |
100.0 |
1,104,848 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Source: U.S. Census of Population
Allegan County has a higher proportion of family households (74.4 percent) than Region 8 or Michigan, including a higher proportion of married couple households (Table 3). Allegan County has a lower proportion of one-parent households than the two comparison areas. Since the County has a high proportion of family household, it follows that it has a lower proportion (25.6 percent) of non-family households than the Region or State. Allegan County’s figure of 2.7 persons per household is similar to the comparison areas.
Table 3 – Household Distribution in 2000
|
|
Total House-holds |
Family Households |
Non-Family Households |
Persons Per House-hold |
Persons in Group Quarters |
|||||
|
Total |
Married Couple |
Female House-holder, no spouse |
Male House-holder, no spouse |
Total |
House-holder living alone |
House-holder 65+ living alone |
||||
|
Allegan County |
38,165 |
28,405 |
23,438 |
3,474 |
1,493 |
9,760 |
7,919 |
2,989 |
2.7 |
1,917 |
|
(%) |
100.0 |
74.4 |
61.4 |
9.1 |
3.9 |
25.6 |
20.7 |
7.8 |
--- |
--- |
|
Region 8 |
399,178 |
281,521 |
225,701 |
40,722 |
15,098 |
117,567 |
93,384 |
32,034 |
2.7 |
35,733 |
|
(%) |
100.0 |
70.5 |
56.5 |
10.2 |
3.8 |
29.5 |
23.4 |
8.0 |
--- |
--- |
|
Michigan (%) |
100.0 |
68.0 |
51.4 |
12.5 |
4.1 |
32.0 |
26.2 |
9.4 |
2.6 |
--- |
Source: U.S. Census of Population
Between 1999 and 2003 the County’s labor force decreased (after an increase). While the labor force decreased, the number of employed decreased at a greater rate causing the unemployment rate to reach 6.9 percent in 2003 (Table 4). The labor force was 56,625 people in 2003, with an annual average of 52,750 employed and 3,900 unemployed. The County’s unemployment rate is consistently lower than Region 8’s and Michigan’s unemployment rates, but surpassed the U.S. average in 2003.
Table 4 – Employment Trends
|
|
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
|
Allegan County |
|||||
|
Labor Force |
57,725 |
58,800 |
58,775 |
56,725 |
56,625 |
|
Employment |
56,050 |
57,050 |
56,050 |
53,425 |
52,750 |
|
Unemployment |
1,675 |
1,750 |
2,725 |
3,300 |
3,900 |
|
Unemployment Rate |
2.9 |
3.0 |
4.6 |
5.8 |
6.9 |
|
Region 8 |
|||||
|
Unemployment Rate |
3.3 |
3.2 |
5.0 |
6.1 |
7.4 |
|
Michigan |
|||||
|
Unemployment Rate |
3.8 |
3.6 |
5.3 |
6.2 |
7.3 |
|
United States |
|||||
|
Unemployment Rate |
4.2 |
4.0 |
4.7 |
5.8 |
6.0 |
Source: Michigan Department of Career Development, Labor Market Information
Table 5 shows that Allegan County has a higher proportion of its population employed in the manufacturing, agriculture, and construction sectors than the population in Region 8 or Michigan. The proportion of people employed in agriculture is double the Region’s percentage. Manufacturing accounts for 31.3 percent of the population’s employment – much higher than the 26.3 percent in Region 8 or the 22.5 percent in Michigan. Construction accounts for 7.0 percent of the population’s employment. These figures indicate the County’s residents’ types of employment and do not represent jobs located within Allegan County.
While Allegan County has an unusual distribution of employment, the top three job categories (Manufacturing, Education, and Retail) are the same in the County, Region, and State.
Table 5 – Employment Distribution in 2000
|
|
Allegan County |
Region 8 |
Michigan |
||
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
% |
|
|
Employed Persons 16 and Over |
54,380 |
100.0 |
545,533 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining |
1,535 |
2.8 |
7,711 |
1.4 |
1.1 |
|
Construction |
3,794 |
7.0 |
32,657 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
|
Manufacturing |
17,003 |
31.3 |
143,234 |
26.3 |
22.5 |
|
Wholesale Trade |
2,148 |
3.9 |
25,274 |
4.6 |
3.3 |
|
Retail Trade |
5,740 |
10.6 |
68,230 |
12.5 |
11.9 |
|
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities |
2,162 |
4.0 |
19,067 |
3.5 |
4.1 |
|
Information |
641 |
1.2 |
9,507 |
1.7 |
2.1 |
|
Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental leasing |
1,910 |
3.5 |
27,835 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
|
Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services |
2,702 |
5.0 |
35,758 |
6.6 |
8.0 |
|
Education, health and social services |
8,042 |
14.8 |
101,425 |
18.6 |
19.9 |
|
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services |
3,151 |
5.8 |
36,699 |
6.7 |
7.6 |
|
Other services (except public administration) |
2,207 |
4.1 |
24,646 |
4.5 |
4.6 |
|
Public Administration |
1,065 |
2.0 |
13,490 |
2.5 |
3.6 |
Source: U.S. Census of Population
Allegan County’s median household income of $45,813 falls between Region 8’s figure of $45,915 and Michigan’s median of $44,667 (Table 6). The County’s per capita income of $19,918 is lower than the Region and the State and can be explained by the County’s larger household size. Allegan County has a lower percentage of people living below the poverty level than the Region or State.
Table 6 – Income and Poverty in 2000
|
|
Median Household Income |
Per Capita Income |
% of Population Below Poverty Level |
|
Allegan County |
$45,813 |
$19,918 |
7.2% |
|
Region 8 |
$45,915 |
$20,622 |
8.2% |
|
Michigan |
$44,667 |
$22,168 |
10.3% |
Source: U.S. Census of Population
Table 7 shows that Allegan County has a higher percentage of traditional single family homes the Region 8 or Michigan. The County also has a much higher percentage of mobile homes than the two comparison areas. The County has a very low proportion of multiple family housing. Allegan County’s occupancy rate of 88.2 percent indicates that there is a considerable amount of seasonal housing. The median value of owner-occupied in Allegan County is similar to the Region and State.
Table 7 – Housing Information in 2000
|
Area |
1 Unit |
2 Unit |
3 or more |
Mobile Home |
Other |
Total |
Occupied Units |
Median Value of Owner Occupied Housing |
|
Allegan |
32,898 |
1,025 |
3,139 |
6,171 |
59 |
43,292 |
38,165 |
$115,500 |
|
% |
76.0 |
2.4 |
7.3 |
14.3 |
0.1 |
100.0 |
88.2 |
--- |
|
Region 8 |
309,702 |
19,829 |
66,329 |
38,033 |
631 |
434,500 |
399,178 |
$114,100 |
|
% |
71.3 |
4.6 |
15.3 |
8.8 |
0.1 |
100.0 |
91.9 |
--- |
|
Michigan (%) |
74.5 |
3.5 |
15.3 |
6.5 |
0.2 |
100.0 |
89.4 |
$115,600 |
Source: U.S. Census of Population
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