Chapter 2

Social, Economic and Transportation Profile

 Population and Age Distribution

The 1990 U.S. Census shows a population of 21,398 persons in Cheboygan County, 25,040 persons in Emmet County,  17,957 persons in Otsego County and 13,743 persons for Presque Isle County.  Table 2.1 shows population change between 1980 and 1997.  With the exception of Presque Isle County, all counties experienced population growth between 1980 and 1990.  Otsego County experienced the greatest growth at nearly 20 percent.   According the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Management and Budget projected population growth for 1997 indicates a steady increase in population with  Otsego having the highest at 21.4 percent and Presque Isle the lowest at 4.7 percent.

TABLE 2.1: Population Change 1980-1997: Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego and Presque Isle Counties & State

Unit of Government

1980*

1990*

% Change

1980 to 1990

1997

Estimate**

% Change

1990 to 1997

1990-97

% Change

by Rank***

Cheboygan

20,649

21,398

3.6%

23,535

10.0%

27

Emmet

22,992

25,040

8.9%

28,339

13.2%

17

Otsego

14,993

17,957

19.8%

21,800

21.4%

3

Presque Isle

14,267

13,743

-3.7%

14,392

4.7%

50

Michigan

9,258,344

9,295,297

0.4%

9,773,892

5.15%

N/A

* Source:  U.S. Bureau of the Census - actual counts.  
** Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census & Michigan Department of Management & Budget, Federal-State Program for Population Estimates.  Population estimates are approximations, and are not accurate to the last digit reported.  
*** Number denotes ranking of each county's population change, as compared to all other Michigan counties between 1990 and 1997.  County #1 experienced the largest percent increase; county #64 had the largest population loss.   

 

The Census tally, taken on April first, does not count persons who winter elsewhere.  A review of the 1990 Census housing characteristics for the four counties shows a high rate of seasonal, recreational, or occasional use housing units ranging from 30 percent in Emmet County to more than 34 percent in Otsego County, compared to less than six percent for the State of Michigan.  Therefore, the population may be expected to increase by as much as one-third during the summer months.  Table 2.2 shows the percent seasonal housing units from the 1990 Census. 

Figure 2.1 graphically displays 1990 population levels for all of cities and townships in the four county project area.  This figure shows the communities with the highest population being the cities of Petoskey, Gaylord, Cheboygan, and Rogers City;  Resort, Bear Creek, Little Traverse, Benton, Inverness, Bagley, Otsego Lake, Littlefield Township including the Village of Alanson;  and Tuscarora Township including the community of Indian River. 

 TABLE 2.2: Percent Seasonal Housing Units - 1990: Project Area Counties & State

Unit of Government

Percent Seasonal Housing Units*

Cheboygan

34.3%

Emmet

29.7%

Otsego

34.8%

Presque Isle

34.1%

Michigan

5.8%

* The percent of seasonal housing units as compared to each county's total housing units.  
Source:   U.S. Bureau of the Census

When identifying community service needs, it is important to analyze the age distribution of the community and to target services for specific age groups. The median age of the population all counties in the project area has been increasing over the past few decades, as it has regionally, statewide and nationally.  Table 2.3 shows the median age for the four counties and the state of Michigan for 1980 and 1990.  As can be seen, all of the counties had median ages higher than the State with Presque Isle County having the highest  for both decades.

TABLE 2.3: Median Age - 1980 & 1990:  Project Area Counties & State

Unit of Government

1980

1990

Cheboygan

31.4

37.1

Emmet

30.1

34.5

Otsego

29.1

33.7

Presque Isle

32.4

38.5

Michigan

28.8

32.6

Source:   U.S. Bureau of the Census 

The over 65 age group tend to be high users of public transportation services.  Table 2.4 shows the age distribution compiled from the 1990 Census.  Presque Isle County had the highest percentage (19.8%) of persons 65 years ad older.  Otsego County had the lowest percentage at 13.6 percent and the lowest actual numbers at 2,433 persons.  Whereas, Cheboygan County had the highest actual number of persons at 3,716 and Emmet County had the second highest at 3,531.  Given the high number of seasonal homes and the resulting yearly seasonal influx of retirees, the number of persons 65 years and older likely increases during the late spring, summer and early fall months.

TABLE 2-4: 1990 Population by Age: Project Area Counties & State

 

Unit of Government

0-4 Yrs

5-17 Yrs

18-24 Yrs

25-44 Yrs

45-64 Yrs

65 Yrs. & >

Total

 

Cheboygan (#)

1,444

4161

1597

5830

4650

3716

21,398

Cheboygan (%)

6.8%

19.5%

7.5%

27.3%

21.7%

17.4%

100.0%

Emmet (#)

1,880

4,797

2,013

8,143

4,676

3,531

25,040

Emmet (%)

7.5%

19.2%

8.0%

32.5%

18.7%

14.1%

100.0%

Otsego (#)

1,387

3,731

1,484

5,427

3,495

2,433

17,957

Otsego (%)

7.7%

20.8%

8.3%

30.2%

19.5%

13.6%

100.0%

Presque Isle (#)

854

2,649

962

3,485

3,077

2,716

13,743

Presque Isle. (%)

6.2 %

19.3 %

7.0%

25.4%

22.4%

19.8%

100.0%

Michigan (%)

7.4 %

22.3 %

13.6%

27.5%

19.4%

9.9%

100.0%

(#) = Number of persons in the age category shown.
(%) = Age category as a percent of total population.
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

 

Figure 2.2 is the thematic map that depicts the 1990 population distribution of the 65 years and older population group.  Communities with relatively high number of persons 65 years and older include the cities of Petoskey, Gaylord, Cheboygan, and Rogers City; and the townships of Bear Creek, Tuscarora (including the community of Indian River), Bagley, Otsego Lake and Benton.

Population Density

In analyzing community service needs such as transportation, it is helpful to look at the land area to be served and particular areas where population is clustered. Figure 2.3 shows the communities of Petoskey, Gaylord, Harbor Springs, Onaway, Rogers City and Mackinaw City have a high population density.  The Townships of Resort, Bear Creek, Little Traverse, Littlefield, Tuscarora, West Traverse, and Bagley also had a high population density according to the 1990 census.  While not displayed separately, the Villages of Vanderbuilt, Wolverine, Posen, and Millersburg also had higher population density.

Mobility Limitations 

The 1990 Census Transportation Planning Package produced by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation contains special tabulations of place of work and transportation data.  Figure 2.4 depicts the number of persons by age with mobility limitations by local units of governments in the project area.   The cities of Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Gaylord, Cheboygan, Onaway, and Rogers City; and the townships of Resort, Bagley, Corwith Village of Vanderbuilt), Tuscarora, Mullett, Inverness and Case (Millersburg) and had numbers exceeding 55 persons. 

Figure 2.1  
1990 Population Levels
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 Figure 2.2  
65 Years and older
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Figure 2.3  
Population Density
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Figure 2.4
Mobility Limitations  
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Mobility Limitations
Vehicle Ownership

The 1990 Census Transportation Planning Package contains information on household size and vehicle ownership.  Figure 2.5 is a thematic map that shows the distribution of houses with no vehicle available.  The cities of Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Gaylord, Cheboygan, Onaway, and Rogers City; and the townships of Bear Creek, Tuscarora. Inverness, Corwith (including Vanderbuilt), and Bagley had high numbers of households with no vehicle available.  In addition, Emmet County had 552 households with no vehicle available, Cheboygan had 464 households,  Otsego County had 366 households and Presque Isle County had 352 households with no vehicle available. 

Figure