Minneapolis Population Stagnant for a Decade

Data from the 2010 census shows that Minneapolis' population is down 40 people since 2000, although there has been some population growth in the suburbs and other parts of the state.

Minnesota's most populous city hasn't grown in the past 10 years.

Updated demographic information recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that 382,578 people lived in Minneapolis in 2010. That's 40 fewer people than occupied the city in 2000-reflected in census statistics as a 0 percent change.

The greater metro area, meanwhile, experienced some growth, according to census data compiled by the Metropolitan Council. The region's population increased by 207,505 during the decade to about 2.85 million, a change of roughly 8 percent. That's a slower growth rate than the previous decade, when the seven-county region added 353,341 people-a 15 percent hike.

The majority of the region's population growth occurred in the suburbs. “With available land for new development, these communities provide the planning, services, and amenities that both accommodate and encourage growth,” Libby Starling, research manager for the Met Council, said in a statement.

Despite the stagnant population in Minneapolis, the city has continued to build: Since 2000, Minneapolis has added 9,681 housing units-boosting the city's total to nearly 180,000 units. The new construction has been offset by foreclosures and family displacements during the recession, and the city now has a staggering 14,747 vacant housing units-representing a vacancy rate of about 8.3 percent, versus the 3.7 percent vacancy rate in 2000.

Minnesota's other metropolitan areas showed mixed results with respect to population growth: St. Paul, 285,068 (down 0.7 percent); Rochester, 106,769 (up 24.4 percent); Duluth, 86,265 (down 0.8 percent); and Bloomington, 82,893 (down 2.7 percent).

The census data also shows an increase in racial diversity. In the Twin Cities, the white population is 76 percent-down from 83 percent in 2000 and 90 percent in 1990. That means that people of color now make up about 24 percent of the region's population, compared to 10 percent 20 years ago.

To download detailed tables from the U.S. Census Bureau, click here. Find the Met Council's breakdown of the census data here.