Detroit's population grows for second straight year as prior estimates revised upward

**Airforceguy** · May-15-25, 04:27 AM

Detroit's population grew for the second straight year in 2024, according to Census Bureau estimates that also revised upward the city's 2023 population, the city's latest milestone in reversing a generations-long people drain that began in 1957.The Motor City gained nearly 7,000 people from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday. The city's population rose from 638,914 to 645,705, an increase of more than 1%.

The census also revised last year's population data, when Detroit grew for the first time in 66 years, to reflect stronger growth than previously measured. The federal government now says the city gained more than 4,000 people between 2022 and 2023, more than double the prior estimate.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...n/83630070007/

**Danny** · May-15-25, 06:32 AM

YAY Duggan

At last!

**Danny** · May-15-25, 06:34 AM

This means Detroit's white people must have uptick to 12.5%.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · May-15-25, 08:45 AM

Still a far cry from when it was once the country's 5th largest city

**K-slice** · May-15-25, 08:57 AM

Good news, hopefully it means the city diversified more as well.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · May-15-25, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

Still a far cry from when it was once the country's 5th largest city

Yes, we’re all painfully aware of that. But reversing the annual losses since 1957 is a MAJOR accomplishment. I was glad to see an uptick in Grand Rapids too.

**Danny** · May-15-25, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

Yes, we’re all painfully aware of that. But reversing the annual losses since 1957 is a MAJOR accomplishment. I was glad to see an uptick in Grand Rapids too.

But is the population of Grand Rapids going to reach 200,000 before 2028?

**Trumpeteer** · May-15-25, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by Danny

This means Detroit's white people must have uptick to 12.5%.

Danny DROP the White/Black bullshit!!

**Danny** · May-15-25, 06:57 PM

But look at the numbers:

Detroit

white 60,770
black 493,212
Asian 10,085
Mixed Race 19,199
Hispanic 51,269

During the last 2 years regional growth and gentrification has contributed to bring young professionals and millennials to Detroit. Years of violent crime, poor schools and job opportunities elsewhere and mass exodus to the suburbs had lured black people. Race is not the issue of Detroit's growth regionalization is.

**Zacha341** · May-16-25, 04:33 AM

The percentage may be debatable but I too think more white people ARE moving into Detroit. I don't have a problem with that.

Is it racist or wrong to notice?

Originally Posted by Trumpeteer

Danny DROP the White/Black bullshit!!

Originally Posted by Danny

This means Detroit's white people must have uptick to 12.5%.

**Burnsie** · May-16-25, 05:44 AM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

Still a far cry from when it was once the country's 5th largest city

4th largest from 1920 through 1940 censuses. Though it had more people in 1950 than 1940, it slipped to 5th place as it traded spots with Los Angeles.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · May-16-25, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by Burnsie

4th largest from 1920 through 1940 censuses. Though it had more people in 1950 than 1940, it slipped to 5th place as it traded spots with Los Angeles.

In 1960, Detroit ranked 5th among U.S. cities by population. By 1980, its rank had dropped to 6th. From 1960 to 1985, Detroit experienced population decline, according to Population Stat. This decline contributed to its lower ranking in later years.

1960:
Detroit's population was estimated to be 1,670,144, and the city was the 5th largest in the U.S.
1970:
Detroit's population decreased slightly to 1,511,482, and the city remained the 5th largest.
1980:
Detroit's population continued to decline to 1,201,669, and the city's ranking dropped to 6th.
1985:
Detroit's population continued to decline.

.

2023: Detroit/Population633,218 [[2023)

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**K-slice** · May-19-25, 10:14 AM

The craziest part is, if Detroit had managed to maintain it's population at it's peak we would still be ranked 5th in the nation for population.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · May-23-25, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by K-slice

The craziest part is, if Detroit had managed to maintain it's population at it's peak we would still be ranked 5th in the nation for population.

Actually, if that were the case in 1960, Detroit would be 6th as Phoenix has passed Philadelphia as the 5th largest in population. Phoenix has 1,673,164 and Philadelphia has 1,573,797. Cities such as Jacksonville, Ft Worth, Austin, Charlotte, Columbus, and Indianapolis have all passed Detroit with populations above or near 1 million.

**Satiricalivory** · May-23-25, 03:51 PM

City proper numbers don't really mean much since the comparison is apples to oranges. Columbus is bigger than Miami by official city limits. Yeah no.

**Hermod** · May-24-25, 11:34 AM

As I remember from 6th grade Social Studies class at Wayne Elementary, the 1950 census was about 1.8 million people.

**ABetterDetroit** · May-25-25, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by Hermod

As I remember from 6th grade Social Studies class at Wayne Elementary, the 1950 census was about 1.8 million people.

And with good paying jobs for anyone that wanted one.

I find it surprising the amount of times people want to discuss Detroit’s population loss ad nauseam without bringing that fact into the discussion like it was some sort of magic trick that made the people disappear.