The United States has a longstanding reputation as being a melting pot (or salad bowl), with its diversity manifesting itself across many different demographics. However, some places across the country are notably more heterogeneous than others.
Stacker compiled a list of the most diverse counties in Michigan using data from using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest Simpson's diversity index score. Simpson's diversity index measures community diversity on a scale of 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse), more on the calculation can be read here.
Think you know which counties in your home state might be the most diverse? Keep reading to see if your predictions are correct.
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Doug Coldwell // Wikimedia Commons
1 / 50#50. Mason County
- Index: 0.101
- Total population: 28,954
- White: 94.8% (27,438)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (261)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (285)
- Asian: 0.6% (167)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (607)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (196)
Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 50#49. Bay County
- Index: 0.103
- Total population: 104,104
- White: 94.7% (98,568)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (1,796)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (362)
- Asian: 0.6% (606)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (2,395)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (377)
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 50#48. Montcalm County
- Index: 0.103
- Total population: 63,413
- White: 94.6% (60,014)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (1,387)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (332)
- Asian: 0.4% (224)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (58)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (1,165)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (233)
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 50#47. Oceana County
- Index: 0.105
- Total population: 26,416
- White: 94.6% (24,986)
- Black or African American: 1.1% (293)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (255)
- Asian: 0.2% (63)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (5)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (467)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (347)
Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 50#46. Menominee County
- Index: 0.110
- Total population: 23,074
- White: 94.3% (21,756)
- Black or African American: 0.3% (73)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.3% (531)
- Asian: 0.4% (94)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (597)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (23)
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Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 50#45. Monroe County
- Index: 0.111
- Total population: 149,727
- White: 94.2% (141,090)
- Black or African American: 2.4% (3,568)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (372)
- Asian: 0.6% (864)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (11)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (3,166)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (656)
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
7 / 50#44. Branch County
- Index: 0.117
- Total population: 43,513
- White: 93.9% (40,858)
- Black or African American: 2.4% (1,032)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (187)
- Asian: 0.8% (342)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (15)
- 2 or more races: 1.6% (679)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (400)
Recomposemedia // Wikimedia Commons
8 / 50#43. Delta County
- Index: 0.121
- Total population: 36,026
- White: 93.7% (33,746)
- Black or African American: 0.3% (121)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.0% (715)
- Asian: 0.4% (156)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (4)
- 2 or more races: 3.5% (1,247)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (37)
9 / 50
#42. Clinton County
- Index: 0.123
- Total population: 78,389
- White: 93.6% (73,354)
- Black or African American: 1.8% (1,442)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (128)
- Asian: 1.5% (1,183)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (1,934)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (348)
Ken Heuvelman // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 50#41. St. Clair County
- Index: 0.124
- Total population: 159,247
- White: 93.5% (148,933)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (3,554)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (284)
- Asian: 0.6% (1,026)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (57)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (4,488)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (905)
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Adam Buzzo // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 50#40. Allegan County
- Index: 0.124
- Total population: 116,143
- White: 93.5% (108,625)
- Black or African American: 1.4% (1,569)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (398)
- Asian: 0.7% (802)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (12)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (2,963)
- Some other Race: 1.5% (1,774)
Jcvertin // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 50#39. Houghton County
- Index: 0.129
- Total population: 36,070
- White: 93.2% (33,634)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (278)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (143)
- Asian: 2.8% (1,000)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (19)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (779)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (217)
Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 50#38. Marquette County
- Index: 0.130
- Total population: 66,686
- White: 93.2% (62,152)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (1,118)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (545)
- Asian: 0.9% (627)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (32)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (2,071)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (141)
Cwbash (Charles W. Bash) // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 50#37. Cheboygan County
- Index: 0.130
- Total population: 25,418
- White: 93.2% (23,683)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (205)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.1% (527)
- Asian: 0.4% (111)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (840)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (52)
O. David Redwine // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 50#36. Midland County
- Index: 0.131
- Total population: 83,355
- White: 93.2% (77,659)
- Black or African American: 1.4% (1,167)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (358)
- Asian: 2.3% (1,916)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (59)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (1,654)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (542)
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Dwight Burdette // Wikimedia Commons
16 / 50#35. Lenawee County
- Index: 0.132
- Total population: 98,381
- White: 93.1% (91,576)
- Black or African American: 2.5% (2,471)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (475)
- Asian: 0.3% (305)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (20)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (2,767)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (767)
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 50#34. Newaygo County
- Index: 0.134
- Total population: 48,366
- White: 93.0% (44,979)
- Black or African American: 1.2% (595)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (412)
- Asian: 0.4% (186)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (880)
- Some other Race: 2.7% (1,314)
Alexey Stiop // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Leelanau County
- Index: 0.135
- Total population: 21,652
- White: 92.9% (20,123)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (105)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.1% (678)
- Asian: 0.6% (137)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (17)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (403)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (189)
Doug Coldwell // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 50#32. Mecosta County
- Index: 0.135
- Total population: 43,251
- White: 92.9% (40,183)
- Black or African American: 3.0% (1,296)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (278)
- Asian: 0.9% (370)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (9)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (983)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (132)
Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 50#31. Emmet County
- Index: 0.145
- Total population: 33,104
- White: 92.4% (30,573)
- Black or African American: 0.7% (246)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.9% (959)
- Asian: 0.6% (205)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (30)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (1,020)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (71)
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Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
21 / 50#30. St. Joseph County
- Index: 0.152
- Total population: 60,836
- White: 92.0% (55,964)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (1,353)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (182)
- Asian: 0.5% (305)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (36)
- 2 or more races: 3.2% (1,946)
- Some other Race: 1.7% (1,050)
Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 50#29. Ionia County
- Index: 0.156
- Total population: 64,300
- White: 91.7% (58,958)
- Black or African American: 4.6% (2,976)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (128)
- Asian: 0.4% (269)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (9)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (1,500)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (460)
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 50#28. Manistee County
- Index: 0.167
- Total population: 24,457
- White: 91.2% (22,297)
- Black or African American: 2.9% (710)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.8% (437)
- Asian: 0.4% (92)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (16)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (818)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (87)
Unknown author // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 50#27. Gratiot County
- Index: 0.168
- Total population: 40,916
- White: 91.0% (37,227)
- Black or African American: 5.7% (2,346)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (242)
- Asian: 0.4% (183)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (30)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (796)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (92)
Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 50#26. Gogebic County
- Index: 0.169
- Total population: 15,061
- White: 91.0% (13,708)
- Black or African American: 3.9% (582)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.6% (392)
- Asian: 0.5% (82)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (12)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (273)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (12)
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Gpwitteveen // Wikimedia Commons
26 / 50#25. Ottawa County
- Index: 0.195
- Total population: 286,558
- White: 89.6% (256,755)
- Black or African American: 1.5% (4,425)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (907)
- Asian: 2.7% (7,747)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (67)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (7,987)
- Some other Race: 3.0% (8,670)
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
27 / 50#24. Cass County
- Index: 0.207
- Total population: 51,523
- White: 88.9% (45,779)
- Black or African American: 5.2% (2,666)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.1% (555)
- Asian: 0.8% (431)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (1,557)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (535)
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
28 / 50#23. Isabella County
- Index: 0.222
- Total population: 70,688
- White: 88.0% (62,196)
- Black or African American: 2.7% (1,916)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.2% (2,271)
- Asian: 1.8% (1,262)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (10)
- 2 or more races: 3.5% (2,470)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (563)
Phillip L. Hofmeister // Wikimedia Commons
29 / 50#22. Jackson County
- Index: 0.230
- Total population: 158,636
- White: 87.3% (138,511)
- Black or African American: 7.8% (12,350)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (564)
- Asian: 0.8% (1,310)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (35)
- 2 or more races: 3.2% (5,011)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (855)
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
30 / 50#21. Lake County
- Index: 0.237
- Total population: 11,852
- White: 86.9% (10,301)
- Black or African American: 7.9% (940)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (110)
- Asian: 0.2% (25)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (15)
- 2 or more races: 3.5% (416)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (45)
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Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
31 / 50#20. Schoolcraft County
- Index: 0.244
- Total population: 8,048
- White: 86.5% (6,958)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (36)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 7.0% (565)
- Asian: 0.4% (30)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 5.6% (450)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (9)
SBarnes // Wikimedia Commons
32 / 50#19. Eaton County
- Index: 0.248
- Total population: 109,456
- White: 86.4% (94,564)
- Black or African American: 6.8% (7,435)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (647)
- Asian: 2.3% (2,552)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (32)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (2,927)
- Some other Race: 1.2% (1,299)
Lawrence G. Miller // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 50#18. Van Buren County
- Index: 0.252
- Total population: 75,358
- White: 86.2% (64,935)
- Black or African American: 3.3% (2,520)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (770)
- Asian: 0.7% (534)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (23)
- 2 or more races: 4.2% (3,175)
- Some other Race: 4.5% (3,401)
National Park Service // Wikimedia Commons
34 / 50#17. Alger County
- Index: 0.270
- Total population: 9,151
- White: 84.9% (7,773)
- Black or African American: 7.7% (702)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.6% (334)
- Asian: 0.1% (13)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.5% (324)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (5)
battlecreekcvb // Wikimedia Commons
35 / 50#16. Calhoun County
- Index: 0.325
- Total population: 134,212
- White: 81.3% (109,110)
- Black or African American: 10.5% (14,148)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (740)
- Asian: 2.4% (3,233)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (16)
- 2 or more races: 4.5% (6,041)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (924)
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NOAA Great Lakes Envorinmental Ressearch Laboritory // Flickr
36 / 50#15. Muskegon County
- Index: 0.327
- Total population: 173,297
- White: 80.8% (140,103)
- Black or African American: 13.6% (23,499)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (1,416)
- Asian: 0.6% (955)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (26)
- 2 or more races: 3.7% (6,351)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (947)
Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons
37 / 50#14. Macomb County
- Index: 0.329
- Total population: 870,325
- White: 81.0% (704,624)
- Black or African American: 11.7% (101,734)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (2,804)
- Asian: 4.0% (34,996)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (546)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (20,770)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (4,851)
Mxobe // Wikimedia Commons
38 / 50#13. Kalamazoo County
- Index: 0.332
- Total population: 262,745
- White: 80.8% (212,216)
- Black or African American: 11.1% (29,215)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (596)
- Asian: 2.4% (6,259)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (108)
- 2 or more races: 4.8% (12,597)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (1,754)
Grguy2011 // Wikimedia Commons
39 / 50#12. Kent County
- Index: 0.354
- Total population: 648,121
- White: 79.6% (515,653)
- Black or African American: 9.6% (62,188)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (2,334)
- Asian: 3.0% (19,427)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (187)
- 2 or more races: 4.1% (26,415)
- Some other Race: 3.4% (21,917)
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 50#11. Luce County
- Index: 0.354
- Total population: 6,338
- White: 79.6% (5,043)
- Black or African American: 6.8% (429)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 6.5% (409)
- Asian: 0.5% (32)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (8)
- 2 or more races: 6.1% (385)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (32)
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Russell Sekeet (amtrak_russ) // Wikimedia Commons
41 / 50#10. Berrien County
- Index: 0.358
- Total population: 154,133
- White: 78.7% (121,313)
- Black or African American: 14.6% (22,561)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (621)
- Asian: 1.9% (2,931)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (27)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (4,833)
- Some other Race: 1.2% (1,847)
kennethaw88 // Wikimedia Commons
42 / 50#9. Saginaw County
- Index: 0.398
- Total population: 191,821
- White: 75.2% (144,268)
- Black or African American: 18.6% (35,664)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (642)
- Asian: 1.2% (2,284)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (17)
- 2 or more races: 3.2% (6,179)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (2,767)
Flintmichigan // Wikicommons
43 / 50#8. Genesee County
- Index: 0.400
- Total population: 407,875
- White: 74.8% (304,896)
- Black or African American: 19.9% (81,062)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (1,393)
- Asian: 1.0% (4,211)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (127)
- 2 or more races: 3.5% (14,098)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (2,088)
Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons
44 / 50#7. Oakland County
- Index: 0.412
- Total population: 1.3 million
- White: 75.0% (940,365)
- Black or African American: 13.6% (170,488)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (3,413)
- Asian: 7.5% (93,551)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (307)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (35,337)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (9,724)
Jeffness // Wikimedia Commons
45 / 50#6. Mackinac County
- Index: 0.417
- Total population: 10,780
- White: 74.4% (8,023)
- Black or African American: 3.4% (363)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 16.1% (1,731)
- Asian: 0.7% (74)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (17)
- 2 or more races: 5.1% (551)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (21)
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Bryan Robb // Wikimedia Commons
46 / 50#5. Ingham County
- Index: 0.426
- Total population: 290,587
- White: 74.3% (216,025)
- Black or African American: 11.7% (33,930)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (1,140)
- Asian: 6.8% (19,624)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (107)
- 2 or more races: 5.3% (15,365)
- Some other Race: 1.5% (4,396)
Agnieszka Gaul // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Washtenaw County
- Index: 0.434
- Total population: 367,000
- White: 73.6% (269,998)
- Black or African American: 11.9% (43,795)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (1,541)
- Asian: 9.1% (33,476)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (164)
- 2 or more races: 4.2% (15,239)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (2,787)
Modlind // Wikimedia Commons
48 / 50#3. Baraga County
- Index: 0.439
- Total population: 8,421
- White: 73.4% (6,181)
- Black or African American: 9.3% (783)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 10.0% (842)
- Asian: 0.4% (34)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (5)
- 2 or more races: 6.4% (538)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (38)
P199 // Wikimedia Commons
49 / 50#2. Chippewa County
- Index: 0.470
- Total population: 37,629
- White: 70.7% (26,615)
- Black or African American: 6.0% (2,265)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 14.2% (5,342)
- Asian: 1.0% (372)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (35)
- 2 or more races: 7.9% (2,968)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (32)
PhotosByMahin // Pixabay
50 / 50#1. Wayne County
- Index: 0.565
- Total population: 1.8 million
- White: 53.1% (933,616)
- Black or African American: 38.7% (680,932)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (5,767)
- Asian: 3.4% (58,915)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (445)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (43,442)
- Some other Race: 1.9% (34,182)
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