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Detroit Population History 1900-2000

This page graphically depicts Detroit, Michigan's population changes during the 20th century. Population statistics from the US Census are displayed from 1900 to 2000. The graphics attempt to show how highway policy affected how people chose where to live.

20th Century Detroit: Growth and Migration

The story of Detroit during the 20th century is a story of growth and intra-region migration. The metropolitan area grew from 500 thousand people to over 4.8 million people during the 100 years. While the region was growing, people migrated from the city proper to the outlying suburbs. The 3D population graphic below clearly shows these trends; surrounding counties have grown in population, while the City of Detroit has declined.

Each vertical bar represents absolute Census population in decades since 1900.
Click the following link to view a full-size graphic of Detroit population history 1900-2000.

Detroit Population Trends By Decade

The following set of ten graphics shows the detailed population changes during each decade. Purples and reds indicate population declines, while greens and blues indicate population gains. Each graphic displays the population changes for each city, village, or township. Therefore, you can visualize the intra-regional migration patterns.

Growth and migration cannot happen without a transportation system to support it. Where people live is intrinsically tied to the transportation system that is built. You can see clearly the demise of Detroit's urban core occurring in direct correlation to the dismantling of the public transit system and construction of highways.

For more information, view http://www.detroittransit.org/streetcar/ (outdated link) A Streetcar Named Desire, a presentation with a 100 year timeline of public transportation in Detroit.

Scroll to the bottom for a legend and further information on how to read the graphics. The population of the Detroit region here is defined as the population of the City of Detroit, Wayne County, St. Clair County, Macomb County, Oakland County, Livingston County, Washtenaw County, and Monroe County.

Figures

Absolute Change

Details

Percent Growth

1900 - 1910

migration from farms to cities
immigrants from eastern europe to Detroit

Region	582,236 - 761,481	+30.8%
Detroit	285,704 - 465,766	+63.0%
Michigan	2,420,982 - 2,810,173	+16.1%
US	76,212,168 - 92,228,496	+21.0%

1910 - 1920

Woodward corridor booms from auto factories

Region	761,481 - 1,467,964	+92.8%
Detroit	465,766 - 993,678	+113.3%
Michigan	2,810,173 - 3,668,412	+30.5%
US	92,228,496 - 106,021,537	+15.0%

1920 - 1930

continued rapid growth
Detroit has largest streetcar system

Region	1,467,964 - 2,382,195	+62.3%
Detroit	993,678 - 1,568,662	+57.9%
Michigan	3,668,412 - 4,842,325	+32.0%
US	106,021,537 - 123,202,624	+16.2%

1930 - 1940

Detroit at a turning point
growth slowed down

Region	2,382,195 - 2,613,844	+9.7%
Detroit	1,568,662 - 1,623,452	+3.5%
Michigan	4,842,325 - 5,256,106	+8.5%
US	123,202,624 - 132,164,569	+7.3%

1940 - 1950

WWII war-time growth

Region	2,613,844 - 3,344,793	+28.0%
Detroit	1,623,452 - 1,849,568	+13.9%
Michigan	5,256,106 - 6,371,766	+21.2%
US	132,164,569 - 151,325,798	+14.5%

1950 - 1960

Start of Detroit decline
Start of Suburban ascendancy
Construction of highway systems
Dismantling of streetcar systems

Region	3,344,793 - 4,181,354	+25.0%
Detroit	1,849,568 - 1,670,144	-9.7%
Michigan	6,371,766 - 7,823,194	+22.8%
US	151,325,798 - 179,323,175	+18.5%

1960 - 1970

Region	4,181,354 - 4,736,008	+13.3%
Detroit	1,670,144 - 1,514,063	-9.3%
Michigan	7,823,194 - 8,881,826	+13.5%
US	179,323,175 - 203,302,031	+13.4%

1970 - 1980

Region	4,736,008 - 4,682,726	-1.1%
Detroit	1,514,063 - 1,203,368	-20.5%
Michigan	8,881,826 - 9,262,044	+4.3%
US	203,302,031 - 226,542,199	+11.4%

1980 - 1990

Region	4,682,726 - 4,590,468	-2.0%
Detroit	1,203,368 - 1,027,974	-14.6%
Michigan	9,262,044 - 9,295,287	+0.4%
US	226,542,199 - 248,709,873	+9.8%

1990 - 2000

Region	4,590,468 - 4,833,493	+5.3%
Detroit	1,027,974 - 951,270	-7.5%
Michigan	9,295,287 - 9,938,444	+6.9%
US	248,709,873 - 281,421,906	+13.2%

Influence of Highways

The figures below show interstate highways overlaying growth rates. Highways allowed the outer suburbs of Detroit to grow. Most of the interstate highways were built during the 1960s, as a result of the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act (Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956). This massive public-works project was funded through taxes on gasoline. Breaking with long-standing precedent, Congress allocated the funds exclusively toward highway-construction. The inadvertent effect has been to continue highway construction at the expense of public transportation projects, which are more efficient modes for inter-city commuting. All the problems associated with runaway highway-building have also resulted, including congestion, air and water pollution, and destruction of farm land to name a few.

	1960-1970
	1970-1980
	1980-1990
	1990-2000

Animation

press ESC or click the "Stop" button to stop the animation

Footnotes

Color shades in the percent change figures are not comparable across decades. However, darkest reds are always the largest percentage decliners of the decade and darkest blues are always the largest percentage gainers of the decade. i.e. colors indicate relative growth or decline between the minor civil divisions in that decade. Look at the population statistics to ascertain the overall growth or decline in population during the decade.

Gray indicates the population change was not available.

In the absolute change figures, purple shows population losses and green shows population gains.

This historical data was prepared by SEMCOG in 2002 for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, to supplement their 50-year master plan.

References

Historical Population and Employment by Minor Civil Division, Southeast Michigan; Population, 1900-2000; Employment, 1970-2000 - SEMCOG, June 2002
Historical Population - Technical Report (Unpublished)