Alpena County Demographics

A map of Alpena County's Population by Race

Alpena County, Michigan has an estimated population of 28,880, a less than 1% change from the 28,907 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 92.4% White, 4.2% Multiracial, 1.7% Hispanic, 1.0% Black, 0.5% Native American/Other, and 0.2% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Alpena County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Alpena has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Michigan overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Alpena County, that probability was 12.6% in 2020 and 14.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Alpena County is ranked the 50th most populous county in Michigan, out of 83 counties. Alpena County was ranked the 50th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Alpena County's White Population

26,675 residents of Alpena County, or 92.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Alpena County is significantly higher than in Michigan overall, where 72.4% of the population is White. Alpena County ranks 8th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Alpena County's White population has declined by an estimated 1.2%. White residents' share of Alpena County's population has decreased from 93.4% to 92.4%.

Alpena County is more White than neighboring Iosco County (91.3% White). Alpena County is less White than neighboring Alcona County (93.1% White), Presque Isle County (94.2% White), Montmorency County (93% White), and Oscoda County (93.1% White).

Alpena County's Black Population

291 residents of Alpena County, or 1.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Alpena County is considerably lower than in Michigan overall, where 13.1% of the population is Black. Alpena County ranks 61st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Alpena County's Black population has grown by an estimated 193.9%. Black residents' share of Alpena County's population has increased from 0.3% to 1.0%.

Alpena County is more Black than neighboring Alcona County (0.7% Black), Presque Isle County (0.2% Black), Iosco County (0.9% Black), Montmorency County (0.7% Black), and Oscoda County (0.4% Black).

Alpena County's Asian Population

53 residents of Alpena County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Alpena County is slightly lower than in Michigan overall, where 3.4% of the population is Asian. Alpena County ranks 50th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Alpena County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 52.7%. Asian residents' share of Alpena County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Alpena County is less Asian than neighboring Alcona County (0.5% Asian), Iosco County (0.8% Asian), and Montmorency County (0.6% Asian).

Alpena County's Hispanic Population

477 residents of Alpena County, or 1.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Alpena County is slightly lower than in Michigan overall, where 5.9% of the population is Hispanic. Alpena County ranks 73rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Alpena County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 14.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Alpena County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.7%.

Alpena County is more Hispanic than neighboring Presque Isle County (1.6% Hispanic). Alpena County is less Hispanic than neighboring Iosco County (2.8% Hispanic), and Oscoda County (2.1% Hispanic).

Alpena County's Native American/Other Population

157 residents of Alpena County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Alpena County is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Alpena County ranks 54th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Alpena County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 21.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Alpena County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Alpena County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Presque Isle County (0.3% Native American/Other), Montmorency County (0.4% Native American/Other), and Oscoda County (0.4% Native American/Other). Alpena County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Alcona County (0.7% Native American/Other), and Iosco County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Alpena County's Multiracial Population

1,227 residents of Alpena County, or 4.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Alpena County is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Alpena County ranks 56th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 83 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Alpena County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 14.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Alpena County's population has increased from 3.7% to 4.2%.

Alpena County is more Multiracial than neighboring Alcona County (3.4% Multiracial), Presque Isle County (3.4% Multiracial), Iosco County (3.7% Multiracial), Montmorency County (3.6% Multiracial), and Oscoda County (3.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.