MECOSTA COUNTY

Mecosta County’s population increased by 9.7 percent between 1980 and 2000 to reach a total of 40,553 (Table 22). Region 8’s population increased by 31.9 percent during the same 20-year period to reach 1,104,848. Both the Region and Mecosta County grew at a much greater rate than Michigan as-a-whole, which increased by 7.3 percent. 2003 Census estimates show the County’s population increased to 41,728, which is a 2.9 percent increase over three years. Projections indicate Mecosta County’s population will continue to grow and by 2020 will reach 55,762. Projections indicate Region 8’s population will reach 1,564,894 by 2020.

Table 22 – Population Trends & Projections

Source: U.S. Census of Population, WMRPC

Mecosta County’s age distribution (Table 23) differs from Michigan’s and Region 8’s distribution. The County’s median age of 31.9 is lower than Michigan’s median age of 35.5 and Region 8’s median of 33.0. The County has three age groups that are greater than the comparison areas’ distribution, so create many categories that are lower than the comparison areas’. The 18-24 age group accounts for 19.8 percent of the County’s population and is high due to the presence of Ferris State University. Additionally, the age groups between 55 and 84 are larger due to the large amount of retirement-oriented communities. The distribution of males and females in Mecosta County differs from the comparison areas since there are slightly more males than females.

Table 23 – Age and Gender Distribution in 2000

Source: U.S. Census of Population

Mecosta County has a lower proportion of family households (66.3 percent) than Region 8 or Michigan (Table 24). The proportion of married couple family households falls between the two comparison areas. The County has a similar proportion of one-parent households as the two comparison areas. Since the County has a lower proportion of family household, it follows that it has a higher proportion (33.7 percent) of non-family households than the Region or State. Mecosta County’s figure of 2.7 persons per household is also similar to the comparison areas.

Table 24 – Household Distribution in 2000

Source: U.S. Census of Population

Between 1999 and 2003 the County experienced a steady, and slightly growing, labor force, while at the same time experiencing a slower rate in growth of employed, resulting in an increasing unemployment rate (Table 25). The labor force reached 18,875 people in 2003, with an annual average of 17,675 employed and 1,200 unemployed. Mecosta County’s unemployment rate is lower than the state or regional average, but higher than the national average.

Table 25 – Employment Trends

Source: Michigan Department of Career Development, Labor Market Information

Table 26 shows that Mecosta County has a higher proportion of its population employed in the agriculture, construction, retail, transportation, education, and entertainment sectors than the population in Region 8 or Michigan. The proportion of people employed in Education accounts for 29.6 percent of the population’s employment – much higher than the 18.6 percent in Region 8 or the 19.9 percent in Michigan. These figures indicate the County’s residents’ types of employment and do not represent jobs located within Mecosta County.

Table 26 – Employment Distribution in 2000

Source: U.S. Census of Population

Mecosta County’s median household income of $33,849 is much lower than Region 8’s figure of $45,915 or Michigan’s median of $44,667 (Table 27). The County’s per capita income of $16,372 is also lower than the Region and the State. Mecosta County has a higher percentage of people living below the poverty level than the Region or State.

Table 27 – Income and Poverty in 2000

Source: U.S. Census of Population

Table 28 shows that Mecosta County has a lower percentage of traditional single family homes the Region 8 or Michigan. The County has a much higher percentage of mobile homes than the two comparison areas. The County has a low proportion of multiple family housing. Mecosta County’s occupancy rate of 76.1 percent indicates that there is a considerable amount of seasonal housing. The median value of owner-occupied in Mecosta County is lower than the Region or State.

Table 28 – Housing Information in 2000

Source: U.S. Census of Population