Metro Detroit now smaller than Phoenix?

[iheartthed]

Despite a marginal population increase of 0.1% -- an estimated 4,094 people -- metro Detroit continues to drop in rank among the nation's most populous areas.

The region dropped from the 13th to 14th in population rankings from 2011 and 2012, according to census data released today. In 2010, metro Detroit ranked 12th. Phoenix's metro area, with an estimated 4,329,534 residents, surpassed metro Detroit, which now stands at 4,292,060. New York, Los Angeles and Chicago continue to have the largest metropolitan areas with population sizes of 19.8 million, 13 million and 9.5 million, respectively.

http://www.freep.com/article/2013031...t-census-finds

Once the nation's fourth largest metropolitan area, will the Detroit area remain in the top 15 by the next census?

[TexasT]

Interestingly enough, I keep hearing how "huge" Detroit proper is. It's 140 square miles, give or take. My hometown of Houston is 627 square miles and keeps expanding. I grew up in The Woodlands, 30 miles north of Houston and there's been talk of annexation. Can you imagine Detroit annexing Ann Arbor, spreading out that far?

It's the same in metro areas. Detroit's MSA is under 4000 square miles. Phoenix's is 16,573 square miles.

Just something to take into account as some of these cities keep adding population.

[Detroitnerd]

Once the nation's fourth largest metropolitan area, will the Detroit area remain in the top 15 by the next census?[/FONT][/COLOR]

It's all Detroit's fault. If Detroit were to suddenly fall into a giant sinkhole, metro Detroit would once again be a prosperous, desirable place to live.

[leapfrog]

It's all Detroit's fault. If Detroit were to suddenly fall into a giant sinkhole, metro Detroit would once again be a prosperous, desirable place to live.

Finally, someone gets it!

[Detroitnerd]

Finally, someone gets it!

So if all Detroiters were to walk to the river and throw themselves in, that would be good for the region?

[leapfrog]

So if all Detroiters were to walk to the river and throw themselves in, that would be good for the region?

Learn to recognize sarcasm - but if you want to go first and see what happens....

[Detroitnerd]

Learn to recognize sarcasm - but if you want to go first and see what happens....

I'm not really sure you're being sarcastic.

[Hermod]

So if all Detroiters were to walk to the river and throw themselves in, that would be good for the region?

No, but a very, very persuasive Marcus Garvey would be a godsend.

[English]

No, but a very, very persuasive Marcus Garvey would be a godsend.

Hermod, I already made Detroit instantly a better place the second I departed. Black Detroit population is now -1, including my vote! But wait, an entire family of my cousins moved to Arizona, so that's -4. The first of our kin moved around 1915, and with the exception of one uncle, our family did not make 100 years in the city of Detroit.

Not sure what else you want us to do... we get it, we know, you want us gone! We are leaving... yes, I know, you wanted us gone like 40-50 years ago, but mobility = money + education in the postmodern era. It took us a while. Cut us a break.

While I don't think those of us who are native-born Black Detroiters will exactly walk into the river anytime soon, as the jobs dry up, people will be forced to migrate elsewhere to find employment. I held on as long as I could, and now have a Grand Scheme to spend 1/3 of the year, starting in 2014, working in the D. But most of those who leave will be gone, and their kids will know nothing of the city by the straits, save for perhaps a vague affection for Tigers baseball.

But I'm not sure that folks back home should care about metro population size. I'm in a bigger metro now, and as they say more people, "mo' money, mo' problems." The difference is that the problems here don't really get the national attention that problems in Detroit receive.

[iheartthed]

No, but a very, very persuasive Marcus Garvey would be a godsend.

Begs the question: whose existence has been most detrimental to Detroit? Poor violent blacks or old racist whites?

[brizee]

No, but a very, very persuasive Marcus Garvey would be a godsend.

A few more Nat Turners and John Browns would have produced a much more civil and polite USA.

[DetroitPlanner]

Texas, when you're talking metropolitan area population annexation does not mean much. Yes it can mean major changes in how local government is structured, but people are attracted to a region for jobs.

We are still suffering from a huge out-migration of people who are in their working years, a good portion of which are in the prime child rearing age. This means in many places deaths are outpacing births. This won't turn around until we have a major job generator to replace the 400k manufacturing jobs plus spin off jobs we lost between 2003-2010.

[Zug]

Texas' main point was that the physical area of the metro area is 4x larger for Phoenix. In 2010, Metro Phoenix had a density of 252.9 /sq. mi. whereas Metro Detroit's was 1,097.9/sq. mi.

It still looks bad to fall another place...but whatever. It will be a while until #15 catches us. Metro Seattle is still about 800,000 fewer people.

[samtrak]

What is the population and rank of Detroit City?

[Cincinnati_Kid]

What is the population and rank of Detroit City?

Detroit's population is 713,000 and ranks as the 18th largest city in the US. Just thirty years ago it was the 5th largest city in the US. Detroit was the second largest city in the Midwest behind Chicago. Now, it has fallen behind Indianapolis and Columbus.

[rb336]

Who cares? Phoenix is a hell hole

[313WX]

Who cares? Phoenix is a hell hole

So is Detroit.

But at least the government in Phoenix isn't incompetent to the point where it can't provide basic services adequately.

[rb336]

So is Detroit.

But at least the government in Phoenix isn't incompetent to the point where it can't provide basic services adequately.

yeah, they are only going to experience perpetual water shortages, it is # 10 and rising on the list of dangerous cities, top 25 for metro areas, has one of the highest levels of citizen complaints against its police department in the country

[Jimaz]

yeah, they are only going to experience perpetual water shortages, it is # 10 and rising on the list of dangerous cities, top 25 for metro areas, has one of the highest levels of citizen complaints against its police department in the country

Phoenix is a hell hole.

Add repeatedly unexpected electricity and gasoline shortages to the water shortages.

Their government is incompetent, although maybe in different ways. Embarrassingly notorious nutcases such as Joe Arpaio, Evan Mecham and Jan Brewer arose out of Arizona politics.

The bottom line is simply that a desert environment is not a wise place to choose for sustained human habitation. That's pretty much just common sense.

There are many factors in judging a city's merits. Population is just one.

[Cliffy]

yeah, they are only going to experience perpetual water shortages, it is # 10 and rising on the list of dangerous cities, top 25 for metro areas, has one of the highest levels of citizen complaints against its police department in the country

People keep talking about the water shortages and how we have all this water but Phoenix has one of the cheapest water rates in the country and my water bill is threw the roof. I still can't figure that out... What good is all this water when I pay over $100 a month.

[Richard]

People keep talking about the water shortages and how we have all this water but Phoenix has one of the cheapest water rates in the country and my water bill is threw the roof. I still can't figure that out... What good is all this water when I pay over $100 a month.

Because I am on septic my water bill is $6 per month.

It is odd you have one group wanting to move closer into the urban core [[myself included) then you have the other group that loves sprawl.Until gas goes up anyways.Miles and miles of cookie cutter stamped out strip malls and trac homes.

All so somebody can make a tv special telling us that we pay $800 a year sitting in traffic.I guess the further out we go the less chance that the zombies can get us.

[JDKeepsmiling]

People keep talking about the water shortages and how we have all this water but Phoenix has one of the cheapest water rates in the country and my water bill is threw the roof. I still can't figure that out... What good is all this water when I pay over $100 a month.

It is all about infrastructure. We are dealing with 100 year old pipes and pumps. They are dealing with things that were built in 1990 at the latest. In 80 years thiers will cost just as much or more due to transport costs.

This is the same reason taxes are cheaper on the urban fringe, everything is new and shiney. People don't realize that if we just reinvested that into exsisting infrastructure, we would get the same nbenifit, without having to fix more stuff later. I think maintience in perpituity should be figured into project costs to give a more realistic view of what is costs to develop a greenfield.

[Novine]

"Now, it has fallen behind Indianapolis and Columbus."

True but keep in mind that Columbus is still growing into adjacent counties by annexing large parts of its suburban growth. Indianapolis is a consolidated city-county. Detroit has done neither.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

"Now, it has fallen behind Indianapolis and Columbus."

True but keep in mind that Columbus is still growing into adjacent counties by annexing large parts of its suburban growth. Indianapolis is a consolidated city-county. Detroit has done neither.

I didn't know that. Thanks for the reply.

[Parkguy]

"Now, it has fallen behind Indianapolis and Columbus."

True but keep in mind that Columbus is still growing into adjacent counties by annexing large parts of its suburban growth. Indianapolis is a consolidated city-county. Detroit has done neither.

Detroit CAN'T annex new areas the way other cities can-- it isn't allowed by the state constitution.