Parks & Recreation Five Year Recreation Plan ... - City of Marquette

DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update 2011
City of Marquette
Any plan must be based on an understanding of the people in the community. For the purpose
of this plan the community refers to all lands within the boundaries of the City and those City
owned lands lying outside the boundaries. Population analysis and projections are basic plan
elements that impact future land use decisions relating to growth or shrinkage of demand for
new development, community facilities and services.
The State of Michigan grew by a healthy 6.9% in the 1990s. However, between 2000 and 2010,
the State lost 1% of its population or about 54,800 people. The state‘s estimated population
according to the 2010 Census is 9,883,640.
Marquette is the largest community in Michigan‘s Upper Peninsula, which is home to just 3% of
Michigan's population, or about 318,000 people. The Upper Peninsula is very rich in mineral
deposits including iron, silver and copper. (Small amounts of gold have also been discovered.)
In the 19th century mining dominated its economy and it was home to many isolated company
towns. Lumbering was the other major industry. Some mines are still active today, though on a
much smaller scale than 100 years ago. Because of the climate and the short growing season,
there is very little agriculture in the Upper Peninsula. Tourism is a major industry.
Regional location map
5
The Upper Peninsula has large tracts of
state forests, Eastern arborvitae
swamps, coastline, over 150 waterfalls,
and very low population densities.
Because of the camping, boating,
fishing, hunting and hiking opportunities,
many Lower Peninsula and Wisconsin
families take their summer vacations
here.