America's Dying Cities
From 2000 to 2010 the U.S. population increased by the smallest rate than at any time since the Great Depression, rising 9.7 percent to approximately 308 million people, according to new census data. It’s yet another sign of the tough times that many Americans faced during the second half of the 2000s due to an ailing economy, but it only begins to paint a picture of the country’s money woes.
Earlier in the decade, Detroit not only thrived from a booming auto industry, but the city also boasted a vibrant music and art scene. Unfortunately, the decline of the auto industry hit this city particularly hard, at one point causing the unemployment rate to shoot up to nearly 50%. Some of those who could afford to move and weren’t tied down by a mortgage likely shifted to other regions with better job markets, evidenced by the decline in the overall population and the number of residents younger than 18. In recent months, however, businesses and community activists have begun to brainstorm ways to rebuild the city so that this coming decade ends up better than the last one.
Total Population (2009): 910,921
Proportion Under 18 (2009): 28.5%
Change in Total Population (2000-2009): -4.2%
Change in Residents Under 18 (2000-2009): -2.6 percentage points
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