Census population estimates show Ottawa, Allegan counties growing again

HOLLAND — According to U.S. Census population estimates released May 4, no county in Michigan saw greater population growth from 2010 to 2020 than Ottawa. 

Census data shows Ottawa's population grew from 263,801 residents to an estimated 294,635 residents. That's a 10-year growth of about 11.7 percent, the highest rate in Michigan. 

Neighboring Allegan County also saw population growth over the same period. Allegan's population grew from 111,408 residents in 2010 to an estimated 118,927 residents in 2020, a 6.75 percent growth rate. That's the fourth-highest growth rate in Michigan over the past decade. 

Kent County, directly east of Ottawa, posted the second-highest growth rate at 9.3 percent. Kent County grew from 602,622 residents in 2010 to an estimated 658,708 residents last year. 

At the latest Census apportionment announcement in late April, Michigan's population was 10.077 million — and the state had an overall apportionment population of 10.084 million when accounting for Michiganders living or stationed overseas — an increase of 2 percent since 2010.

But the state's population growth wasn't fast enough to avoid losing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, as other states in the South and West grew at faster and higher rates.

Michigan's congressional representation will decrease from 14 to 13 seats in the House, and the state will lose an electoral college vote, also down to 13. The electoral college is used to select the winner of presidential elections. 

Nationally, the fastest-growing state was Utah, which swelled 18.4 percent over the decade. West Virginia shrank the most, losing 3.25 percent of its population. Overall, the Midwest grew by 3.1 percent, the slowest regional growth rate in the country. The Northeast was next with a 4.1 percent rate of growth. Comparatively, the West grew by 9.2 percent percent and the South by 10.2 percent.