While Michigan’s Lower Peninsula added more than 200,000 new residents between 2010 and 2020, the Upper Peninsula lost nearly 10,000 people, per new U.S. Census data.
It’s not a surprise to InvestUP CEO Marty Fittante, but it is concerning.
“That trend needs to serve to motivate us,” Fittante said. “It’s not sustainable. It’s something we need to find a course correction for to have any chance to thrive.”
InvestUP is an economic organization representing Upper Peninsula business.
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Rural counties struggled the most to maintain their population, and the U.P. was no different. Of the six Michigan counties that lost the largest percentage of their residents, five are north of the Mackinac Bridge.
The U.P. now represents less than 3% of Michigan’s total population, per the new census data.
Of the U.P.’s 15 counties, 14 of them shrunk between 2010 and 2020, per the census. Only Houghton County (up 733 residents) gained residents.
(Can’t see the map? Click here.)
Gogebic lost the most, dropping 2,047 residents. The 2018 closure of the Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco Township likely played a role, Fittante said. The prison employed about 200 workers and could accommodate nearly 1,200 prisoners. In Michigan, inmates get counted in the county they’re incarcerated in.
Per the census, Marenisco’s population dropped from 1,727 in 2010 to 455 in 2020. The 73.7% reduction in people was the biggest drop of any Michigan community.
Gogebic, Michigan’s westernmost county, did see some rebound when Waupaca Foundry opened a facility in Ironwood and hired 45 workers.
(Can’t see the database? Click here.)
There’s a common Yooper mindset that growth is bad, Fittante said.
“We hear from time to time, ‘Oh, we don’t want to be like that community’ that has some congestion by virtue of their growth,” Fittante said.
It’s a mentality Fittante and his team are trying to change – as a dwindling population leads to less state and federal resources. Perhaps more consequential, businesses don’t want to come or stay if the talent market can’t support the jobs, leading to further decline.
Reasons for optimism
Despite the downward trend, Fittante believes there’s never been more opportunity for the U.P.
They’re just starting to leverage schools like Northern Michigan University. For example, Northcross Group – a cybersecurity company from Maine – recently established a partnership with NMU to develop a talent pipeline and now has an office in Marquette.
If the U.P. wants to grow, it needs to find a way to keep college students from bolting after graduation, Fittante said.
“I think there’s much reason for optimism here,” Fittante said.
The work-from-home shift caused by the pandemic is also encouraging, Fittante said. If people can work from anywhere, more people might choose to live in northern Michigan because of the nature and recreational opportunities, he said.
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Federal aid intended to build out broadband internet networks and local airports could also help the U.P., Fittante said.
A recent boon in tourism also provides opportunity. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore had never topped 900,000 annual visitors until 2020, when it had more than 1.2 million visitors. In 2021, the Munising natural attraction is on par for 1.5 million visitors, Fittante said.
COVID-19 has inspired people to visit the U.P. The next step is convincing people it’s a worthwhile place to live.
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Upper Peninsula population loss should be wake-up call, business leader says - MLive.com
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