Running head: COMMUNITY ANALYSIS PAPER

Community Analysis Paper

Bryan Blattert-Fq1975
SW 4020
November 13, 2015

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Community Analysis Paper
Population
The city of Howell is comprised of an area of 4.11 square miles with a population density
of 2,325 people per square mile (Census viewer, n.d.). Howell is a 100% urban area surrounded
by a rural setting. The surrounding areas are made up of rural townships that are primarily
agricultural zones. The current population is comprised of 8,805-91.9% White alone, 274-2.9%
Two or more races, 256-2.7%Hispanic, 111-1.2%Asian alone, 60-0.6%Black alone, 53-0.6%
American Indian alone, 5-0.05% Other race alone (City Data, n.d.). The population is largely
made up of persons 18 to 64 years. According to City Data, 492 resident in Howell are foreign
born. The citys population is comprised of a diverse ancestral history. According to Census
Viewer (n.d.), ancestries in the population consist of: German (21.7%), English (10.9%), Polish
(9.7%), Irish (9.3%), French (4.6%), and United States (4.5%).
To give an idea of where Howell falls when comparing to state averages in Michigan, I
would like to sum it up with several comparisons. According to City Data (n.d.), unemployed
percentage is significantly below state average, black race population percentage is significantly
below state average, median age is below state average, renting percentage is above state
average, length of stay since moving in is below state average, and institutionalized population
percentage is above state average. Howell has seen its fair share of changes since I was I a teen
in high-school to current times. The growth of the surrounding areas is one of the major changes
I has witnessed that are not reflected in the data. Those in surrounding areas still need to utilize
Howell for necessities so the population is largely impacted by the townships surrounding it.
2000

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In 2000, the population of Howell was 9,362; 4,590 Male and 4,772 Female (Census
Viewer, n.d.). According to City Data (n.d.), 210 people in nursing homes, 166 people in local
jails and other confinement facilities, and 17 people in homes for the mentally retarded. The
population in 2000 was made up by the following number of races: White Alone-8,983,
American Indian-57, Asian-116, African American-30, Pacific Native-17, Hispanic-199, and
Other-159 (Census Viewer, n.d.). I was a freshman in high school in 2000, and some of my first
memories where I was actually aware of my surroundings came from this time. I lived on the
outskirts of Howell with my family. Howell was a small town with the surrounding townships
developing. The population was a more rural population with the surrounding land being farm
land. The expanding surrounding communities created a platform for new businesses to open and
they were. To meet the demands, the area developed fast and lost its small town feel. The
population was changing due to the urban sprawl that was going on at the time, the area gained
residents from more urban settings. Howell is located off of the I-96 corridor, making it a
convenient location to live while commuting to more urban areas for employment.
2010
In 2010, the population of Howell was 9,489; an increase of 1.36% from 2000 (Census
Viewer, n.d.). The gender of the population in 2010 was nearly equal, 4,912 were female and
4,577 were male. According to City Data (n.d.), 210 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing
facilities, 209 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities, and 6 people in
group homes intended for adults. American Indian-68, Asian-109, African American-40,
Hispanic-331, Other-248 (Census Viewer n.d.).
2013

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In 2013, the population was 9,557, an increase of 3.5% from 2000 (City Data, n.d.). The
population was made up of 4,522 males and 5,035 females. The estimated household income in
2013 was slightly below the state average. Housing value is 2013 was slightly higher than the
state average. Poverty was 16.4% for Howell residents, and has recovered to a rate lower than
the state average today.
Political Affiliation
The city of Howell has always been a large republican based population. The 2000
presidential election received the following votes from Howell residents: 59% voted for Bush,
38% for Gore, and 3% other. In the 2012, presidential election 61% voted Romney, 38% voted
for Obama, and 1% voted for other (City Data, n.d.). According to Census Viewer (n.d.), there
are currently 5,736 registered voters in Howell, 54.25% Female and 45.7% Male. Out of the
registered voters, 36.66% are married, 55.14% are single or unknown, and 8.19% are considered
non-traditional (Census Viewer, n.d.).
Crime
Crime in the city has seen a slight increase over time, rising from 2000 to current times.
The most alarming statistic were the rape crimes reported, numbers of rape cases went from
around 0 each year to an alarming 16 cases today. There are 98 registered sex offenders living in
Howell and the autonomous townships that border it (City Data, n.d.). Violent crime has risen
from 88.9 in 2001 to 209.1 in 2013, a substantial increase. In 2001 Howell was far below the
national average for violent crimes; in 2013 Howell was just above the national average. The
changes that the area has seen that could contribute to the rising crime rate are the reduced
number of police officers and the changes in population. In 2003, there were 20 police officers

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and in 2013 there were 16 (City Data, n.d.). The crime rate is rising and the city of Howell has
reduced the number of active police officers, enabling more opportunities for crime and
increasing response times when a person calls 911.
Current
Howell itself has seen changes in the amount of small businesses that have opened and
big box stores that have opened to meet the demands of the growing population in surrounding
areas. The immediate core of Howell has not changed a great deal, it is the development of the
rural areas surrounding the city. The once rural only areas have had farms sell to a developer,
creating subdivisions where historic farms once stood. This happened directly behind my
parents house; they bought ten acres tucked back in the woods and it bordered a cattle farm.
Where the cattle once grazed in a several hundred acre field, stands a large development. Howell
has become a centralized area for the surrounding townships, the city government acts
autonomous with other area governments. Howell has increased in the concentration aspect and
remains the most concentrated compared to surrounding areas. One thing I enjoy about Howell
are the old historic houses that line the main streets. Recently gentrification of these structures
has increased, people are purchasing some of the older homes and remodeling them. This
gentrification is giving Howell a face lift. With the change in population, it has stratified the
population in the area. The area contains all classes, races, and ethnicities now.
Changes
The changes that have taken place in Howell since my youth are both positive and
negative for the residents living here. First, diversity is a great thing and has greatly influenced in
many positive ways. I enjoyed seeing people of all races and ethnicities in Howell, experiencing

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the different businesses that have opened to meet the needs of a more diverse population. With
the increase in populations in surrounding areas, the small town feel has been lost in Howell.
There is always traffic and the slow pace feel is gone. The change has brought a positive
environment for a diverse population. Populations-at-risk have seen an increase in assistance and
programs created to help with whatever struggles they may be experiencing. The increase in area
residents has created a new atmosphere for Christian influence and non-profit charities.
Howell had a negative stereo type during my youth. One of the surrounding areas
members affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan. Unfortunately, there actions labeled the city of
Howell and people often had negative things to say about living here. Today, the population is
more diverse and residents are very accepting and excited about the growth the city of
experiencing. It seems the label has been lifted and the stereotype is old news which I am pleased
with. Today, the interactions among different racial and economic population groups are much
better. Howell is viewed as a community for everyone, this has increased in the diversity of
business and boosting local economies.
Influence from Environment
Growing up in the outskirts of Howell has influenced who I am as a person today. The
areas rural, country influence was an influence on me in many ways. I learn to love hunting,
fishing, specific music, farming, and agriculture due to the influences the area put on me as a
young child. I feel very fortunate to have grown up in the small town atmosphere the area
provided, I will always seek areas similar to Howell because I enjoy a more rural life.
The city of Howell has taken on a systems perspective role, fitting into the larger picture
when it comes to consumer demands and resources. The area was not as multifaceted when I was

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growing up, now it has developed to serves the changes in population. From an ecological
perspective, Howell has adapted well to the changes it has undergone in the past few decades.
The area has developed to accommodation increasing populations in surrounding areas. The
commerce in Howell has developed to serve a larger population than it used to. Howell provides
those from urban areas a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life but still meets
there convenient needs.
Crime is the main problem I discovered when researching, though it is not off of the
charts it is still rising. The number of active duty police officers has decreased while crime has
slowly increased over time. The population in Howell has seen a slight change but most of all the
surrounding areas have seen the most dramatic changes. The areas contain schools that are
experiencing problems with drug use, primarily heroin. In response, I think the Howell police
department needs to respond to the change in population the surrounding areas are experiencing
because that same population has a direct effect on Howell.
Conclusion
The city of Howell has undergone a slow change over the past twenty years. The main
change has taken place in the surrounding area populations. The city of Howell has been directly
affected by the change in populations and has responded to the change in consumer needs and
demands. A once thriving farm community is undergoing changes due to urban sprawl.

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References
City Data-Howell, Michigan. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from http://www.citydata.com/city/Howell-Michigan.html
Howell, Michigan Population: Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics,
Quick Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from
http://censusviewer.com/city/MI/Howell
Netting, E., Kettner, P., McMurtry, S., & Thomas, L. (2012). Social Work Macro Practice (5th
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.