What makes this The Third Coast is not just the waves of water on our Great Lakes or the waves of grain in our fields, but the excellent booksellers and the concentration of strong markets that are found in the region. Of the top 100 population centers in the US, the GLBA contains eleven, including Chicago (#3), Detroit (#7), Indianapolis (#13), and Columbus (#16). Association membership numbers declined in the mid-90s, as elsewhere in the country, but the booksellers who remain are a savvier group, committed to making their way in this business they love. For example, GLBA members are participating in both BookSense marketing and Booksense.com at a higher rate than our proportional share of ABA memberships.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau in July 2003, over half the country’s population, 54.2 percent to be exact, is concentrated in ten states. Of these ten, three of them lie in the Midwest: Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan. Together, with Indiana, these four states hold approximately 14% of the U.S. population. Economically speaking, these four states represented also approximately 13% of the U.S. Gross State Product. To us, these numbers speak volumes about the impact and importance the Great Lakes region has on the course of our country’s future, and only strengthens the idea of the Third Coast.

The Statistics
July 1, 2003 Population Estimates
US: 290,809,777
IL: 12,653,544 (5)
OH: 11,435,798 (7)
MI: 10,079,985 (8)
IN: 6,195,643 (14)
*According to The U.S. Census Bureau
Region contains 13.88% of U.S. population

2001 Gross State Product (millions of current dollars)
Printing and Publishing Industry
United States: 100,193
Illinois: 6,501
Indiana: 1,827
Michigan: 2,233
Ohio: 3,879
*According to The United States Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis (June 2001)
Region contains 14.41% of the Gross National Product in the Printing and Publishing Industry

2001 Gross State Product (millions of current dollars)
United States Total Gross State Product: 10,137,190
Illinois: 475,541
Indiana: 189,919
Michigan: 320,470
Ohio: 373,708
*According to The United States Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis (June 2001)
Region contains 13.41% of the Gross National Product

ABA Independent Bookstores
United States: 2,277
Michigan: 71
Illinois: 73
Ohio: 62
Indiana: 30
*According to The American Booksellers Association
Region contains 10.36% of ABA Independent Bookstores in the U.S.