Mecosta County has seen population differences since 2010, with the new census reporting a 7.2% decrease in population. The county’s total population in 2010 was 42,798 and saw a loss of 3,084 to a 2020 count of 39,714.

The city of Big Rapids has experienced a significant decrease in population, with a recorded decrease of 27% in the number of residents since 2010. The city’s total population in 2010 was 10,601 and the city experienced a loss of 2 874 for a total of 7,727 inhabitants in 2020. .

Osceola County has also seen a decrease in population, with results showing a 2.71% decrease since 2010. The county’s total population in 2010 was 23,528 and it lost 637 residents to a number total of 22,891 in 2020.

Mecosta County reported a large percentage of its residents on the older side in the 2020 census, with 79.9% of the population aged 18 or older and 20.1%. Mecosta County also falls in the lower end of the diversity index at 19.7%, and Osceola County falls lower at 14.1%.

The results also revealed that the overall population of the state of Michigan has increased by 2% over the past decade. Early data released showed the state’s population as of April 1, 2020 was 10,077,331, up from 9,883,640 in 2010.

Nationally, the diversity of the United States has increased, with results showing that the “two or more race” population, also known as the multiracial population, has changed significantly since 2010.

The multiracial population was measured at 9 million people in 2010 and is now 33.8 million people in 2020, an increase of 276%. Multiracial “combined” populations for all racial groups accounted for most of the overall changes within each racial category.

All racial groups alone or in groups combined saw increases. The “Some Other Race” group alone or in combination at 49.9 million increased by 129%, surpassing the black or African American population at 46.9 million as the second largest race alone or group in combination.

The results also showed changes in population growth differences by age. The 2020 census showed that the adult population group, aged 18 and over, increased by 10.1% to 258.3 million people over the decade.

Seventy-two U.S. metropolitan areas lost population between the 2010 census and the 2020 census. The released data also revealed that the population of U.S. metropolitan areas increased by 9% between 2010 and 2020, resulting in 86 % of population lives in US metropolitan areas in 2020, up from 85% in 2010.

Additionally, concern over declining census counts has led Big Rapids city officials to consider the possibility of conducting a special census.

A special census is a basic count of population, housing units, collective dwellings, and transient locations taken by the U.S. Census Bureau at the request of a government unit.

Local officials frequently request a special census when there has been a significant demographic change in their community.

Big Rapids Mayor Fred Guenther said his main concern is the city’s budget for the next three years, deciding to budget as if the city will get the money or as if it won’t.

If approved for a special enumeration, the city will be responsible for the entire cost, which he estimated at around $150,000. Some of that money could be offset by American Rescue Plan Act funding that the city will receive.

He said the city should receive $1,084,680 over two annual payments of $542,340. The city received the first installment in October. The four categories are public health and economic impact; salary bonus; Loss of income; and investment in infrastructure.

The census will release additional information as data is verified through June 2022.