Southwest Michigan Population Gains

southwestmichigan

Southwest Michigan has seen some population gains in the past year. According to Kinexus, after years of population loss, the tri-county region of Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties showed a slight increase in 2017. Across the three counties, the population went up by 426 people. Berrien County gained 102 residents, or 0.10%. Van Buren County saw an increase of 152 people, or 0.20%, and Cass County’s population went up by 172, or 0.30%. Kinexus CEO Todd Gustafson tells us a declining population, an aging workforce, and lower educational attainment are the three big problems facing southwest Michigan. He tells us the 2017 figures are encouraging, considering the region’s overall population decline since 2010. Gustafson says, since then, we’ve seen a 2% decline in population since 2010 in Berrien County, a 2% decline in Cass County, and a 1% decline in Van Buren County over the past seven years.