Census shows midsized suburbs reeling from Michigan crisis

[Bozita]

Source: Detroit News

Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Census shows midsized suburbs reeling from Michigan crisis
Data reveal incomes are down, foreclosures up in Metro Detroit.
Mike Wilkinson / The Detroit News


Michigan's economic descent has affected communities large and small, census data released today show, leaving homeowners squeezed by declining incomes and forcing many to leave their homes.

The number of vacant housing units in the six-county region has doubled since 2000, and the percentage of folks who spend more than a third of their monthly income on their mortgage has taken a noticeable tick upward.

For the first time since the 2000 census, the agency released detailed data on communities with populations greater than 20,000; earlier data only covered townships, cities and counties of more than 65,000.

The new data show every Metro Detroit midsized community saw median household income fall since 2000, with most communities seeing double-digit drops.

Read more: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081209/METRO/812090364

[Bozita]

1. Here's the Detroit Free Press' take ...

Household income on decline in Michigan
Entire state is feeling recession, analyst says
BY KRISTI TANNER • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • DECEMBER 9, 2008

Every county in Michigan with a population of more than 20,000 saw a decline in real household income since 2000, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data released today.

Wayne and Macomb counties suffered about a 14% decrease in inflation-adjusted income, according to data collected through the end of last year.

In Oakland County, one of the state's richest, household income dropped about 12%.

"If you look at some of these communities," the figures send a clear message that "nobody is immune. All parts of the state -- urban and rural -- are feeling the effects of the recession," said Kurt Metzger, director of Detroit Area Community Indicator System, a nonprofit center that studies demographic trends.

more...

http://www.freep.com/article/20081209/NEWS06/812090310

[ksimons]

2. Just watched 'citizen kane' and history repeats itself it seems nt

[Festivito]

3. FYI, Detnews is our Republican paper, Freep our Dem, yes freep.

Southeast Michigan has many suburbs, each with their own school system(some do combine). That way they didn't have to bus THOSE PEOPLE to their all-white schools.

One suburb is for blacks, its name: Inkster. Is that obvious enough for you.

Now, I should say, many suburbs have integrated. Some of the farthest, hour and a half drive, still are known to resist.

I digress. This is about suburbs losing it under this bust cycle. As a life-long Detroit resident I can't help but watch this as though its a bad movie with stale popcorn. But, better stale popcorn than none at all.

[sufrommich]

4. Inkster was named for a business owner back in the

1920's. It's got nothing to do with it's ethnic make up.