Lansing tries new strategies to help declining population

By Kyle Campbell
Kickin’ It Old Town staff writer

Despite a population decline of almost 5,000 during the past decade, Lansing officials feel optimistic about the city’s future.

Despite a steady population decline in its largest city, the Lansing-East Lansing metropolitan area has increased in population over the past decade. Illustration by Kyle Campbell.

U.S. Census data showed the Lansing population dropped from 119,128 in 2000 to 114,297 in 2010. This was the fourth census in a row in which Lansing saw a decrease in population — the last recorded gain was in 1970, when the city’s population peaked at 131,403.

But the population decline in Lansing has not adversely affected the surrounding areas. In fact, the Lansing-East Lansing metropolitan area — consisting of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties — saw an increase of more than 15,000 residents, according to the 2010 census.