A closer look at 2010 U.S. Census data has revealed something far from surprising, albeit a bit disappointing, about South Milwaukee …
Our city’s population has remained relatively static the past decade plus.
In 2000, the city had 21,256 people. In 2010, it had 21,156. So it’s a loss of 100 people in 10 years. And those numbers vary year to year.
With that in mind, here is a closer look at population figures over the last decade, with the 2000 and 2010 numbers attributed to actual census data and the other years based on U.S. Census estimates:
- 2000: 21,256
- 2001: 21,369
- 2002: 21,649
- 2003: 21,581
- 2004: 21,425
- 2005: 21,185
- 2006: 21,124
- 2007: 21,080
- 2008: 21,112
- 2009: 21, 342
- 2010: 21,156
Surprising? Not necessarily. We’re not Oak Creek or Franklin. We’re a fully developed city with little room for growth.
That said, we have had some new housing come on line in the past decade (including the Heritage Reserve and Carrington Place condominiums, Marquette Manor, etc.), so you would hope for at least some growth during that time. We’ve gone the other way. That’s concerning.
Of course, it could be worse, much worse. Consider the 1970s. South Milwaukee’s population stood at 23,297 in 1970. By 1980, it was 20,915, a 10.2 percent decline in just one decade. In 1990, it was 20,958, and it has remained relatively stable since then.
And I’ll take stable these days.
Now, population trends are a much more complex issue than just numbers. I get it. And there are larger and longer term demographic issues at play here … one that I won’t pretend to be an expert at or have the space to devote to on this blog.
I will, however, be posting more on census figures in coming weeks and months.
In the meantime, do your own research by checking out the year-over-year Census Bureau figures from the 2000s here. And here is a document from the state’s Department of Administration with more figures (some estimates being a bit different from the census data) dating to 1970.
Also, here is a closer look at the 2010 South Milwaukee census data.
I would like to hear your comments on this. Post them below!
South Milwaukee Blog 