Livingston County Michigan Realtor Demographic Information

Livingston County Population Growth

In 1980, Livingston County had a total population of 100,289. This figure had increased by 70.1 percent from the 1970 Census figure of 58,967. 1990 Census information reveals a 15.3 percent population increase over the 1980 count, for a total county population of 115,645.

Compared with the surrounding counties of Oakland, Washtenaw, Ingham, Jackson, Shiawassee and Genesee, Livingston County has far exceeded their 1980-1990 percent population changes. Oakland, Washtenaw and Ingham Counties have positive growth trends but the remaining counties that surround Livingston County have percent population changes that have declined.

Livingston County currently (1999) ranks 1st in terms of percent population change, from 1990 to 1999, among Michigan counties. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the 1999 population of Livingston County is 151,496; this estimate represents a gain of 35,851persons since 1990, for a percent population change of 31%.

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) forecasts that the Livingston County population will continue to grow over the next twenty years at an approximate 17+ % change per decade. In the year 2000 the county's population is estimated to be 154,061. In 2010 a population of 187,725 is estimated and in 2020 a population of 219,674 is estimated. SEMCOG projects that the Livingston County population will grow by a total of 104,029 persons between 1990 and 2020 for a percent change of 90%.

According to SEMCOG estimates, Hamburg and Genoa Townships sustained the most growth from 1990 to 1999, with population gains of 5,796 and 5,003 persons respectively. Among the city and village estimates, the City of Howell gained the most population (1,020).

Over the next twenty years (2000 -2020) it is expected that Hamburg and Marion Townships will experience the largest population gains with 11,237 and 7,596 new residents respectively, for a 2000 - 2020 percent population change of 57.8% (Hamburg) and 111.1% (Marion).

The City of Howell is the only community that is forecasted to incur a 2000 - 2020 population decrease (267 persons or -2.6%).

Livingston County Geographic Distribution

The southeast quadrant of Livingston County accounts for 48% of the 1990 county population. The communities that comprise southeast Livingston County are Brighton Township with 14,815 residents, Genoa Township with 10,820 residents, Hamburg Township with 13,083, Green Oak Township with 11,604 residents and the City of Brighton with 5,686 residents. The four townships are the most heavily populated townships in the county with 315 - 447 persons per square mile (Brighton 448, Genoa 316, Hamburg 404, Green Oak 334).

Current 1999 estimates show Hamburg Township as the most populated county township (18,879) with Brighton Township as a close second (18,401). According to regional population forecasts, the southeast Livingston County townships will experience 22 - 60% population growth between the years 2000 and 2020.

The City of Brighton is second to the City of Howell in terms of total 1990 population. However, the City of Brighton is forecasted to experience a 1.7% growth rate between 2000 - 2020 while the City of Howell is expected to experience a decline in population. The development pressures experienced in the southeast quadrant of the county are largely attributable to the close proximity of Interstate 96 and U.S. Highway 23.

The interstate/highway systems of this area make it a desirable location for persons who wish to commute to employment in the Detroit, Flint, Lansing and Ann Arbor job markets.

Livingston County Age Distribution

The 1990 Livingston County median age of 32.9 increased from the 1980 County median age of 28.3 and it is projected by the State Demographer that the county median age will rise to 39 by the year 2020. This increase in median age is consistent for all the townships, cities and villages within Livingston County and must reflect our nation's fewer births and aging population.

Within the cities and villages the 1990 median age ranges from a low of 28.6 in Fowlerville to a high of 31.8 in Brighton. Within the townships the median age ranges from a low of 29.5 in Handy Township to a high of 35.2 in Genoa Township. The 1980 and 1990 Censuses reveal a consistent Livingston County trend towards younger median ages in the villages than in the cities and townships.

Livingston County Child Population

Livingston County has the largest 1990 percent of school aged children (under 18) per population in the Southeast Michigan region (28.6 percent). The other Southeast Michigan counties of Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne have an under 18 population that ranges from 21.6 to 24.7 percent of their total population.
Livingston County's 28.6 percent under 18 population has decreased from 34.3 percent in 1980, and the school age population is projected to decrease steadily through the year 2020 with Livingston County experiencing fewer households with children.

The 1980 - 1990 decrease in under 18 population has not precluded County school expansion for Livingston County school districts; schools are currently under construction or expansion in most of the county school districts. Within Livingston County, Cohoctah (30.8%) and Conway (31.4%)Townships (both rural townships) have the greatest percentages of school aged children under 18 based upon total 1990 population.

Of the cities and villages, Pinckney has the greatest percentage of children under 18 per 1990 population (33.3%).

Livingston County Senior Population

Throughout the nation the population is aging. Within the senior segment of the population there are more people that are living to near the centurion mark, while others exceed 100 years of age.

At a regional level the percent of population that is 65 plus has increased for each of the seven counties within the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. From 1980 to 1990 the percent of population that is 65 plus increased 4.6 percent in Macomb County, 2 percent in Oakland, 1.2 percent in Livingston, 1.1 percent in Washtenaw and .4 percent in Wayne.

Livingston County's over 65 population increased from 7 percent of total population in 1980 to 8.2 percent in 1990. A modest increase in this segment of the population is expected by 2000 (8.5% of total population) with an approximate 2 percent growth in the over 65 population expected per decade from 2000 to 2020.

By the year 2020 it is projected that the over 65 population segment will have increased by 19,772 persons since 1990, with a 1990 - 2020 percent change in population of 209.4 %. The 1990 population percentage of senior citizens increased over 1980 figures within each of the townships, villages and cities in Livingston County with the exception of the Village of Fowlerville and the City of Howell. Howell is the township that has the largest percentage of senior citizens aged 65 and older (10.1 percent).

Unadilla Township has the second highest percentage of seniors (10 percent) and Conway has the third highest percentage with 9.3 percent of its population aged 65 and older. In raw numbers, Hamburg Township has the largest number of seniors (955), with Green Oak (954), Genoa (933) and Brighton (826) Townships also containing large populations of seniors.

Among the cities and villages, Howell has the largest number of seniors (1157) for a total 14 percent of their population.

Livingston County Dependent Population

The dependency population is those persons under 18 and those persons aged 65 and over. When the total number of persons in these age categories is divided by the total number of persons considered to be the nondependent ages of 18 through 64, we determine a dependency ratio that helps counties, cities, villages and townships plan for services that primarily serve the dependent population such as medical care or transportation.

In 1980 the Livingston County dependency ratio was 71 percent while from the 1990 Census we find that the dependency ratio is 58 percent. This means that there are 58 dependent persons for every 100 nondependent persons in the county.

The county dependency ratio is expected to decrease until approximately 2010 when it will begin to increase due to the baby boomer population entering their senior years.

Livingston County Sex Distribution

County figures for percent female and percent male within the population have remained virtually unchanged between 1980 and 1990 with a .2 percent change in both female and male statistics. 49.5 percent of Livingston County population is female while 50.5 percent is male.

Within Livingston County townships, Handy Township has the greatest proportion of females (51.3 percent), second in number is Tyrone Township (50.1 percent) and then Howell Township with 50 percent female.

Among the cities and villages, Howell (53.6 percent), Brighton (51.9 percent) and Fowlerville (51.7 percent) all have greater than 50 percent female population.
Green Oak Township has the greatest proportion of males within the County (52.8 percent). Deerfield (52.1) and Hamburg (51.9) Townships have the second and third largest proportion of males within their total population.

The Village of Pinckney has the greatest proportion of males (51.0 percent) among the County cities and villages.

Livingston County Race Distribution

98.2% of Livingston County's total 1990 population of 115,645, were white. The remaining population was distributed as follows: Black 0.6 percent, American Indian 0.6 percent and Asian 0.4 percent.

County residents of Hispanic origin, which can be of any race, totaled 0.8 percent of the total population. However, in raw numbers Hispanics totaled 974 compared to 673 Blacks, 705 American Indians and 480 Asians.

The township with the highest percentage of Black residents is Green Oak (2.7 percent).

The Asian population is relatively evenly distributed throughout the County with the highest concentration (111) in Brighton Township. However, when looking at the figures on a percentage basis, the City of Brighton has the highest percentage of Asians at 0.9 percent.

The highest percentage of American Indians (1.7 percent) is located in Handy Township.

Persons of Hispanic Origin are also fairly evenly distributed throughout the County with the highest percentages falling in Conway (1.4 percent) and Iosco (1.3 percent). However, in real numbers, Brighton Township with 128 persons has the highest concentration of Hispanic persons.

1998 Livingston County race estimates show the that largest percent change since 1990 has occurred in the Asian and Pacific Islander (80.2%) and Hispanic populations (58.9%).

The White population in Livingston County accounted for the largest numerical change in population since 1990 (29,812), followed by the Hispanic (574) and Asian and Pacific Islander (388) populations.

Livingston County Race Distribution Of Children

Of America's young population an increasing number of children 17 years and under are from minority households. Nationally, 38.2 percent of all school aged children in 2010 will be minority children. In Michigan, 1990 figures show 22.8 percent minority children. By 2010 this figure is projected to grow to 29.2 percent.

In Livingston County the percent of minority children 17 years and under is increasing much like the national trend. Livingston County race figures are skewed by the fact that the County has a very low minority population (1.8 percent). However, we do see a clear trend that minority households have a greater percentage of children 17 years and under than do white households.
Census statistics show that within the townships white children 17 years and under comprise an average 29.2 percent of the total white population for each township.

By comparison, minority children 17 years and under comprise a much greater average percentage of the total population for each race. The township averages are: 38.4 percent Black (within 11 townships only), 35.8 percent American Indian, 39.5 percent Asian, and 43.1 percent "other" minority children aged 17 and under.

Hispanic children comprise an average 40.5 percent of the total Hispanic population for each township, although these children may be double counted in the black population.

The average under 17 year population within the Cities of Brighton and Howell per total population by race is 25.3 percent White, 39.2 percent Black, 36.4 percent American Indian, 32.1 percent Asian, 38.7 percent Other and 37.6 percent Hispanic. In raw numbers the City of Howell has a greater number of white and minority children aged 17 and under, than all other County cities, villages and townships.