I ask this question because it could have been the most populated city in America now based on how its population trended from 1920 to 1950. What if they stopped depending so heavily on the auto industry and used more modern jobs and did what other places in the sunbelt are doing?
Bonus question: do you think flint's water would have been poisoned?
I think we would have another Illinois or New York (more like Illinois, there is no Vermont type around there) on our hands. But Georgia (and Texas) would not turn blue as fast because the reverse migration would not happen and people wouldn't need to leave. I think we would not have Bush elected because Michigan's extra electoral votes would make a recount in Florida if there was one in this alt timeline irrelevant.
No, Flint would not have a poisoned water partly because it would not be poor. That water crisis reminds me of the Flintstones.