By AP
DETROIT, MI –
A U.S. Census Bureau estimate shows Michigan's overall population fell below 10 million for the first time since 2000 and the state is one of just three to lose residents.
The population estimate released Wednesday finds the state lost 32,759 people between July 1, 2008 and July 1, 2009. It's the fourth consecutive annual population loss for the manufacturing-dependent state that's seen more than 500,000
residents leave since 2001.
Maine and Rhode Island also lost population, but Michigan's loss was the highest of the three.
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments data center manager Xuan Liu tells The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press that the manufacturing decline means the state will continue to see job losses and people leaving.