types of jobs. With lakefront lots commanding a premium price, purchasers of lakefront property tend to have higher incomes which correlates closely with educational attainment. A lack of semiskilled and unskilled jobs in relation to professional jobs in the area also result in higher educational levels.

 

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT LEVEL FOR PERSONS
(Over 25 Years Of Age)

 

1980  1990  1990

High school Grad    High school Grad   College Grad

 

Township      78.7%     85.3%      20.2%

County   68.3%   76.8%   13.7%

State    68.0%    76.8%    17.4%

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census of Population for the respective years listed.

 

EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME

 

The unemployment levels in Forest Home Township tend to mimic those of the State of Michigan although the job mix is not as diverse in the Forest Home Township Area.

 

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

 

Persons over    Total Civilian    Percent

                    Age 16         Labor Force       Unemployed

1980   1990   1980   1990   1980   1990

 

Township          1008         1138         526         671          11.2         8.0

County          12104          14065          6507          8089          14.1          9.4

 

State         11.0         8.2

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census of Population for the respective years listed.

 

The unemployment rate for Forest Home Township since 1990 has ranged between one and two percentage points lower than the County rate.

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES

 

1991  1992   1993  1994  1995  1996,

 

Forest Home          10.8% 10.7% 8.2% 8.0% 7.2% 6.0%

Antrim County         12.6% 12.5% 9.6% 9.3% 8.3% 7.0%

Source:      Michigan Employment and Security Commission

 

The per capita income levels at the township and county have increased in dollar value. This increase in dollar value is not catching up with the state per capita average. Even more troubling is the fact that the percentage of increase statewide exceeds that of Forest Home Township.

 

INCOME AND POVERTY STATUS

Per Capita Percentage of

 ________Income_____  Persons in Poverty

1980   1990   % Chg.   1980    1990    % Chg.

 

Twp.    7335    12632  +72.2  3.8  9.5  150.0

County   51384   10856  +84.5  10.9  13.2    21.1

State    7189    14538  +89.1  10.4  13.1    26.7

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census of Population for the respective years listed.

 

The percentage of residents of the township with income below the poverty level in 1980 was very low in comparison to the County and the State of Michigan. Unfortunately, from a percentage standpoint, Forest Home Township is rapidly catching up with both the county and the state. This can be attributed to the number of single parent householders (generally female) with children under age 18 living with the parent.

 

1990 FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS

Total     Married Couple     Female Householder/

Family       No Male Present

 

          Total    % With     Total     %With      Total           % With

         Number    Children  Number   Children    Number           Children

                   Under 18__________ Under 18__________ Under 18

Antrim

County           5268           43.4%           4543           40.5%           560           66.1%

 

Forest

Home with

Bellaire           443           43.6%           394           41.4%           40          60.0%

 

Part

Bellaire           134           65.7%           113           65.5%           16           56.3%

 

Forest

Home

without

Bellaire           309           281           24

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census of Population, 1990

DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

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