Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Michigan
Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Michigan
In certain corners of the U.S., the only way you’ll ever be considered a local is if you were born there. Elsewhere, particularly in major metropolitan centers, the constant influx of new businesses, college students, and families can transform neighborhoods every few years and certainly decade over decade.
Americans change their addresses at higher rates than most other countries, but that “move, move, move” mentality may be shifting. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 11.2% of respondents had moved within the last year. Additionally, 72% of Americans reported living in or close to the city they grew up in. To learn more about where people are staying put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Michigan using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state as of 2019.
Keep reading to discover which counties in your state have the most born-and-bred residents.
#30. Alcona County
- Born in Michigan: 8,717 (84.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,466 (14.2% of population)
--- Midwest (5.5%), Northeast (2.2%), South (4.4%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 112 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#29. Barry County
- Born in Michigan: 51,004 (84.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 8,295 (13.7% of population)
--- Midwest (6.3%), Northeast (1.8%), South (3.5%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 1,000 (1.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
#28. Montmorency County
- Born in Michigan: 7,806 (84.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,306 (14.1% of population)
--- Midwest (6.2%), Northeast (1.7%), South (4.8%), West (1.4%)
- Born in another country: 98 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#27. Muskegon County
- Born in Michigan: 146,357 (84.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 23,197 (13.4% of population)
--- Midwest (5.2%), Northeast (1.5%), South (4.6%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 3,192 (1.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.8%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
#26. Clinton County
- Born in Michigan: 66,245 (84.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 9,434 (12.0% of population)
--- Midwest (5.1%), Northeast (1.7%), South (3.5%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 2,409 (3.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (1.5%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#25. Otsego County
- Born in Michigan: 20,706 (84.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,313 (13.5% of population)
--- Midwest (5.1%), Northeast (1.9%), South (4.3%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 382 (1.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.0%)
#24. Wexford County
- Born in Michigan: 28,164 (84.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,460 (13.4% of population)
--- Midwest (5.0%), Northeast (1.7%), South (4.2%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 405 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#23. Roscommon County
- Born in Michigan: 20,261 (84.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,207 (13.4% of population)
--- Midwest (4.7%), Northeast (1.3%), South (4.7%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 338 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#22. Kalkaska County
- Born in Michigan: 14,940 (85.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,331 (13.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.8%), Northeast (1.6%), South (4.7%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 255 (1.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.0%)
#21. Osceola County
- Born in Michigan: 19,822 (85.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,143 (13.5% of population)
--- Midwest (6.0%), Northeast (1.5%), South (4.1%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 213 (0.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
#20. Newaygo County
- Born in Michigan: 41,231 (85.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,959 (12.3% of population)
--- Midwest (5.6%), Northeast (1.2%), South (3.1%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 977 (2.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.1%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
#19. Clare County
- Born in Michigan: 26,130 (85.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,013 (13.1% of population)
--- Midwest (5.0%), Northeast (2.0%), South (4.2%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 385 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.0%)
#18. Saginaw County
- Born in Michigan: 163,569 (85.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 23,074 (12.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.4%), Northeast (1.1%), South (6.2%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 4,619 (2.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (1.2%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.7%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#17. Cheboygan County
- Born in Michigan: 21,734 (85.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,221 (12.7% of population)
--- Midwest (6.1%), Northeast (1.4%), South (3.5%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 377 (1.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#16. Lapeer County
- Born in Michigan: 75,468 (85.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 10,025 (11.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.9%), Northeast (1.3%), South (4.5%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 2,128 (2.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (1.0%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.0%)
#15. Montcalm County
- Born in Michigan: 55,033 (86.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,266 (11.5% of population)
--- Midwest (4.4%), Northeast (1.7%), South (3.2%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 831 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
#14. St. Clair County
- Born in Michigan: 138,289 (86.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 16,015 (10.1% of population)
--- Midwest (2.9%), Northeast (1.5%), South (3.8%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 4,045 (2.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.7%), Oceania (0.0%)
#13. Alpena County
- Born in Michigan: 24,872 (87.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,107 (10.9% of population)
--- Midwest (4.0%), Northeast (1.9%), South (3.1%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 362 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
#12. Gratiot County
- Born in Michigan: 35,742 (87.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,568 (11.2% of population)
--- Midwest (4.7%), Northeast (1.5%), South (3.1%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 463 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
#11. Ionia County
- Born in Michigan: 56,184 (87.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,850 (10.7% of population)
--- Midwest (3.8%), Northeast (1.0%), South (3.7%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 1,006 (1.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
#10. Ogemaw County
- Born in Michigan: 18,272 (87.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,292 (11.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.3%), Northeast (1.6%), South (3.9%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 273 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.3%), Oceania (0.0%)
#9. Gladwin County
- Born in Michigan: 22,123 (87.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,854 (11.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.8%), Northeast (1.8%), South (3.3%), West (1.4%)
- Born in another country: 252 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#8. Presque Isle County
- Born in Michigan: 11,161 (87.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,326 (10.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.9%), Northeast (1.6%), South (2.5%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 178 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#7. Missaukee County
- Born in Michigan: 13,227 (88.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,548 (10.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.6%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.9%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 194 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
#6. Shiawassee County
- Born in Michigan: 60,253 (88.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,088 (10.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.2%), Northeast (1.4%), South (3.6%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 648 (0.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
#5. Sanilac County
- Born in Michigan: 36,883 (89.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,458 (8.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.2%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.9%), West (1.1%)
- Born in another country: 733 (1.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.4%), Oceania (0.0%)
#4. Bay County
- Born in Michigan: 93,323 (89.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 9,059 (8.7% of population)
--- Midwest (3.3%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.7%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 1,426 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#3. Arenac County
- Born in Michigan: 13,559 (90.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,327 (8.8% of population)
--- Midwest (3.0%), Northeast (1.5%), South (2.9%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 173 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#2. Huron County
- Born in Michigan: 28,290 (90.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,475 (7.9% of population)
--- Midwest (3.2%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.3%), West (1.0%)
- Born in another country: 491 (1.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
#1. Tuscola County
- Born in Michigan: 47,954 (90.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,408 (8.3% of population)
--- Midwest (2.7%), Northeast (1.0%), South (3.3%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 450 (0.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

