ONTONAGON, Michigan (Michigan News Source) – Despite a national trend of young people moving to small towns and rural areas, Michigan’s countryside continues to see a decline in population, particularly among those under 45. According to a recent report from the Census Bureau, and reported by the Michigan Farm Bureau, rural areas in Michigan and even urban centers like Detroit are losing younger residents.

Upper Peninsula hit hard as numbers drop.

The Upper Peninsula (U.P.) bears the brunt of this rural population decrease. Houghton County marks the only U.P. county to see growth in the last decade, while the rest experienced a collective drop of 3.1%, as reported by Rural Insights. It is affiliated with Northern Michigan University.

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Ontonagon, a rural village in the northwest portion of the Upper Peninsula, has experienced a significant population decline over the past decade. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population was 1,494 in 2010 and decreased to 1,285 by 2020. Those numbers reflect a loss of 209 residents, or approximately 14%. Factors contributing to this trend include an aging population, limited economic opportunities, and outmigration of younger residents seeking employment elsewhere.

As population figures shrink, so does the region’s political clout. Former Northern Michigan University president David Haynes notes that the U.P. will hold less sway in state and federal policy matters because of this.

Efforts to revitalize: housing and workforce initiatives.

The state government is working to reverse this trend, launching initiatives to address housing and labor shortages that plague rural Michigan. The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) is prioritizing grants for building new housing near employment hubs, aiming to attract new residents and strengthen local economies.

Glimmers of hope amid overall decline.

There are modest signs of improvement in certain areas, particularly in Michigan’s Capital region and western areas, where migration from other states has boosted local populations. While this does not offset the broader rural decline, state officials see it as a promising shift that could eventually help revitalize Michigan’s rural communities.