A Demographic Portrait of Detroit

The 139 Square Miles report attempts to comprehensively report the realities of Detroit, without commentary or critique.

1 minute read

September 3, 2017, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Detroit

Linda Parton / Shutterstock

Oscar Perry Abello shares insights into the report 139 Square Miles by the nonprofit Detroit Future City.

"The report claims to be the first, comprehensive, citywide, data-driven study on the state of Detroit 'without analysis or critique.' It compiles quantitative and spatial data from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners, which is conducted every five years," according to Abello.

The article focuses on a few themes from the report, including the size of small businesses and the racial and economic segregation of neighborhoods around the city. One of the obvious takeaways is the lack of jobs located in the city.

"Even with the recent job growth, the report found that Detroit still only has 30 jobs per 100 residents (though that’s up from 25 per 100 in 2010). Among the jobs that are inside Detroit, well-paying jobs tend to be held by workers who live in the suburbs and commute into the city for work, while many Detroiters leave the city for low-paying jobs outside the city," explains Abello.

For more on the 139 Square Miles report, see also an article by John Gallagher for the Detroit Free Press.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017 in Next City

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

6 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Close-up on BLM sign on Continental Divide Trail in Rawlins, Wyoming.

BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule

The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.

April 20 - Public Domain

Calvary Street bridge over freeway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path

Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.

April 20 - Smart Cities Dive