Ionia County’s population increased by 20.7 percent between 1980 and 2000 to reach a total of 61,518 (Table 8). Region 8’s population increased by 31.9 percent during the same 20-year period to reach 1,104,848. Both the Region and Ionia County grew at a much greater rate than Michigan as-a-whole, which increased by 7.3 percent. 2003 Census estimates show the County’s population increased to 63,573, which is a 3.3 percent increase over three years. Projections indicate Ionia County’s population will continue to grow and by 2020 will reach 82,269. Projections indicate Region 8’s population will reach 1,564,894 by 2020.

Table 8 – Population Trends & Projections

Source: U.S. Census of Population, WMRPC

Ionia County’s age distribution (Table 9) differs from Michigan’s and Region 8’s distribution. The County’s median age of 32.9 is lower than Michigan’s median age of 35.5 and slightly lower than Region 8’s median of 33.0. The County’s age groups that fall outside of the two comparison groups’ ranges include the 5-17 group, which is slightly higher; the 18-24 group, which is lower; the 25-34 group, which is higher; the 35-44 group, which is higher; and the 85+ group, which is lower. The distribution of males and females in Ionia County shows the effects of having several prisons with all male populations.

Ionia County has a higher proportion of family households (73.5 percent) than Region 8 or Michigan, including a higher proportion of married couple households (Table 10). The County has a higher proportion of one-parent households than the two comparison areas. Since the County has a high proportion of family households, it follows that it has a lower proportion (26.5 percent) of non-family households than the Region or State. Ionia County’s figure of 2.7 persons per household is similar to the comparison areas.

Table 9 – Age and Gender Distribution in 2000

Source: U.S. Census of Population

Table 10 – Household Distribution in 2000

Source: U.S. Census of Population

Between 1999 and 2003 the County experienced a stable labor force, but the number of employed decreased resulting in an increased unemployment rate (Table 11). The labor force reached 27,825 people in 2003, with an annual average of 25,725 employed and 2,100 unemployed. The County’s unemployment rate is consistently higher than Region 8’s, Michigan’s, or the nation’s unemployment rates.

Table 12 shows that Ionia County has a higher proportion of its population employed in the manufacturing, agriculture, finance, public administration, and construction sectors than the population in Region 8 or Michigan. The proportion of people employed in agriculture is double the Region’s percentage. Manufacturing accounts for 26.9 percent of the population’s employment. Construction accounts for 7.4 percent of the population’s employment. Finance, at 5.5 percent is only slightly higher. Public Administration, due partially to the prisons in Ionia County, account for 8.2 percent of residents’ employment. These figures indicate the County’s residents’ types of employment and do not represent jobs located within Ionia County.

Table 11 – Employment Trends

Source: Michigan Department of Career Development, Labor Market Information

Table 12 – Employment Distribution in 2000

Source: U.S. Census of Population

Ionia County’s median household income of $43,074 is less than Region 8’s figure of $45,915 and Michigan’s median of $44,667 (Table 13). The County’s per capita income of $17,451 is lower than the Region and the State. Ionia County has a lower percentage of people living below the poverty level than the Region or State.

Table 13 – Income and Poverty in 2000

Source: U.S. Census of Population

Table 14 – Housing Information in 2000

Source: U.S. Census of Population