How ‘Midwestern’ is Michigan?
Michiganders love to pride themselves on being good Midwesterners, but apparently, we don’t have much Midwestern pride. That’s according to a new study published by the Washington Post. When I…
Illustrated map of the state of Michigan in United States with cities and landmarks. Editable vector illustration
Michiganders love to pride themselves on being good Midwesterners, but apparently, we don't have much Midwestern pride. That's according to a new study published by the Washington Post.
When I think Midwestern, I like of states such as Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. But, this study factored in any Airbnbs that use the word "Midwestern" in their description.
According to the tally, Iowa is the most Midwestern state in the union, followed by Indiana and Wisconsin. The study also states that, "rural folks tended to be more likely to describe themselves as Midwestern than did their city-dwelling cousins, so states with large urban populations, such as Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, slipped farther down the rankings." They added that, "most mentions of Midwest outside the 12 core states are to the effect of 'I’m originally from the Midwest' or in reference to a local street or landmark with Midwest in the name."
So, how Midwestern is Michigan? We're at the bottom of the list, only behind Ohio. In fact, North Dakota is above Michigan, which makes no sense, because North Dakota isn't in the Midwest. No. 1 is Iowa, followed by Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Wyoming and New Mexico. Again, several of those states aren't even in the Midwest. What's cool is that the study also determined the "most Midwestern thing on Earth," which is the walleye, "a drab but delicious freshwater fish whose primeval bulging eyes and snaggled teeth would look at home in one of those Nebraska fossil beds." There's no denying that walleye is very Midwestern. Find the full study here.
Michigan is already the 10th most populated state in the U.S., and now, certain cities in the Mitten are growing. The latest Census data shows that 10 Michigan cities are growing at a faster rate than any others, so if you're looking to start a small business or find a job, these places might be a good bet.
HomeSnacks.com has put together a list of the 10 fastest growing cities in Michigan for 2022, according to the most recent census data. "To figure out which cities are growing the most, we simply had to look at the growth rates for cities sine the beginning of the decade, according to the American Community Survey put out by the census every year," they stated. Specifically, they looked at current population, population in 2010 and the growth rate from 2010 to now using the latest available data, which came out in December 2018.
They ranked all 148 Michigan cities with a population more 5,000 people from highest growth rate to lowest. Seeing that 5,000 was the bottom number, this study is very comprehensive, because it mixes large and smaller cities. "The city with the highest growth rate during this time was crowned the fastest growing city in the Wolverine State," they state.
Read on for the 10 fastest growing cities in Michigan for 2022. I'm familiar with quite a few of these towns, and it's nice to see them getting some recognition. It's worth nothing that one of the most wealthiest areas in the state is on this list, too, in East Grand Rapids. If your town is on the list, think of it as good thing, because it means business is booming, even if things are getting a bit more crowded and built up. Find the full study and more information of Michigan's fastest growing towns via HomeSnacks.com here.
10. Rochester
9. Kentwood
8. New Baltimore
7. Frankenmuth
6. Chelsea
Chelsea is a beautiful area in the summer.
https://www.homesnacks.com/mi/chelsea/
5. East Grand Rapids
4. Coldwater
I've been to Coldwater a few times to try out their cool drive-in movie theater!
https://www.homesnacks.com/mi/coldwater/
3. Novi
2. Auburn Hills
1. Rockford
The population in Rockford grew 13.9% during the study period!
10 Fastest Growing Cities In Michigan For 2022
Find the full study and more information via HomeSnacks.com here.
