Livingston County continues to be one of the fastest-growing counties in Michigan, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau today.
According to the 2020 census, Livingston County’s population stands at 193,866, up from 180,967 in 2010.
Livingston is now the 10th-biggest county in Michigan in terms of population, trailing only (in order) Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent, Genesee, Washtenaw, Ottawa, Ingham and Kalamazoo.
For several decades, Livingston was the fastest-growing county in Michigan – or close to it. While the county’s 7.1 percent growth still ranks near the top statewide, the fastest-growing counties are now Ottawa (12.3 percent growth), Grand Traverse (9.5), Kent (9.2) and Washtenaw (8.0).
Looking back historically, this is by far the smallest amount of growth Livingston County has seen since the 1940s. The county grew 15.3 percent in the 2010 census, 35.7 percent in the 2000 census, 15.3 percent in the 1990 census and a whopping 70.1 percent in the 1980 census.
Most of the state’s 83 counties lost population during the decade.
The census data is used to determine federal, state and county legislative and commissioner districts. As one of the five fastest-growing counties in the state, that means Livingston County’s political strength should grow in time for the 2022 elections.
Livingston County’s historical population, according to the census:
1840: 7,430
1850: 13,485
1860: 16,851
1870: 19,336
1880: 22,251
1890: 20,858
1900: 19,664
1910: 17,736
1920: 17,522
1930: 19,274
1940: 20,863
1950: 26,725
1960: 38,233
1970: 58,967
1980: 100,289
1990: 115,645
2000: 156,951
2010: 180,967
2020: 193,866
