Northeastern Pennsylvania Population Drops Slightly As South Population Rises

A lot of people in this part of the nation swore they’d move south during this year’s harsh winter. It appears many of them already have.

According to estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau, warm regions regained population growth momentum last year that was lost during the recession. But population fell in the area comprised of Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties.

Fourteen of the 20 fastest-growing metropolitan areas were in Florida, Texas or the Carolinas, led by The Villages near Orlando, which grew by 5.4 percent between July 1, 2013 and July 1, 2014. In contrast, the fastest-growing metro areas in Pennsylvania grew by 0.6 percent.

The bureau estimated that the population in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area fell by 2,159, or 0.4 percent over the year. Within the three-county region, Lackawanna County lost the most, 1,115, or 0.5 percent. Luzerne County’s population declined 1,033, or 0.3 percent, and Wyoming County’s was relatively unchanged.

Read more:  http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/152599118/

Philadelphia’s Future In The Numbers

English: View of Philadelphia City Hall from the corner of Broad and Walnut Streets. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Of all the numbers that tell the story of Philadelphia today, one stands out as an unambiguous expression of confidence in the city’s future.

Last year, developers received building permits for 2,815 units of new residential housing, the most approved in a decade. Those units are worth an estimated $465 million, the highest annual amount on record.

Investors appear to be betting that Philadelphia’s population, which rose for the seventh straight year in 2013 to 1,553,165, will keep growing and that many of the new residents, young and old, will be looking for new homes and apartments.

There is some demographic evidence to support this expectation. In recent years, the city has experienced rapid growth in its population of young adults, many of them well-educated and upwardly mobile. In addition, an increasing number of aging baby boomers are leaving the suburbs and moving into the city. And the middle-class population appears to have stabilized after decades of decline.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140406_Philadelphia_s_future.html#Ukhw32j52iwf8tzl.99

More People Moving To Lehigh Valley, More Leaving Northwest New Jersey, Census Data Show

English: Pennsylvania county map (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If the latest U.S. Census Bureau data are any indication, the Delaware River is the great divider between growth and decline in this region’s population.

More people are moving out of Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey while more are moving into Northampton and Lehigh counties in Pennsylvania.

The Census Bureau this morning released county-by-county population estimates for last year. The data show both New Jersey counties lost population; both Pennsylvania counties gained population. This pattern has continued for three straight years, the data show.

Births outpaced deaths in all four counties; the population changes are instead tied to people migrating to or emigrating out of the counties, according to the census.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2014/03/more_people_moving_to_lehigh_v.html

Census: Philadelphia Population Grows Again, But Rate Slows

English: This is my own work, Public Domain Photograph, not copyrighted Ed Yakovich http://www.flickr.com/photos/10396190@N04 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Philadelphia’s population rose again last year, albeit at a slower rate than the city’s growth over the past few years, according to Census data released today.

The city’s population as of July 1, 2013, stood at an estimated 1,553,165 people, an increase of 4,518 residents, or 0.29 percent from the previous year. It marks the seventh consecutive year of growth for the city, according to the Census Bureau’s population estimates. So the turnaround continues, but not as dramatically.

Philadelphia saw steep declines in the latter part of the 20th century as it continued to struggle with the loss of its industrial base. That trend continued into the new millennium. Indeed, the city’s population declined every year between 2000 and 2006, losing nearly 26,000 residents during the span. But since 2006, the city has added more than 64,000 people.

The new census numbers, however, suggest that the population rise has slowed. Philadelphia added only about half as many residents in 2013 as it gained in 2011 and 2012. Between 2010 and 2012, the city’s population grew by more than 1.3 percent.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/032714_Census_Philadelphia_population_grows_again_but_rate_slows.html#x6SWWPYwWoS51Kck.99

Stability Spurs More Growth In Pittsburgh

A map of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with its neighborhoods labeled. For use primarily in the list of Pittsburgh neighborhoods. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Slow and steady wins the race: It works for the tortoise, and it seems to be working for Pittsburgh.

The latest annual “Pittsburgh Today and Tomorrow” report by PittsburghTODAY found that Pittsburgh continues to make modest economic progress after years of decline.

PittsburghTODAY is a nonprofit part of the University of Pittsburgh’s University Center for Social & Urban Research that tracks the region’s progress compared with 15 other areas of similar size, geographic and demographic makeups.

Doug Hueck, program director for PittsburghTODAY, highlighted data regarding population growth, unemployment levels and housing appreciation rates as examples of the city’s revival.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/business/2014/02/22/Stability-spurs-more-growth-here/stories/201402220041#ixzz2u57osImH

Harrisburg’s Population Dips Since 2010, Census Bureau Says

Harrisburg has lost a few residents since the beginning of the decade, according to new 2012 population estimates released Thursday from the U.S. Census Bureau.

It’s hardly a mass exodus by any means, but Pennsylvania’s capital city has lost 249 residents since 2010, according to census estimates.  In 2012, Harrisburg’s city population stood at 49,279, a decline of 0.5 percent.

Harrisburg has faced no shortage of challenges.

The city’s financial calamities have drawn national attention.  Harrisburg’s debt has soared to $370 million, due to costly repairs to the city’s incinerator.  The state-appointed receiver, Maj. Gen. William Lynch, is negotiating agreements to try and resolve the city’s financial crisis.

Read more:  http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/harrisburgs_population_dips_si.html

Berks Population Rose By More Than 2,000 From 2010 To 2012

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A combination of births, deaths and migration added more than 2,000 residents to Berks County from 2010 to 2012.

With a population of 413,491, Berks had the ninth-largest population of 67 counties in the state and is tied for 18th-highest growth rate at 0.5 percent.

But statistics released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau also show that 3,044 more residents moved out of Berks than into it from elsewhere within the country.

The only other counties that had more people move out to settle elsewhere in the country were Delaware, which lost 4,282, and Philadelphia, which lost 14,535.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=460364

Minimal Losses In Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming Counties In Latest Census Estimates

Every county in the region lost population from 2011 to 2012, according to new Census Bureau estimates.

Data released by the government Thursday indicates nominal population losses in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming counties.

Pike County was the region’s largest population loser by proportion – 1.15 percent – and Monroe County experienced the largest population decline, 1,188. Wayne County, the third leg of the area’s Pocono Mountains territory, lost 365 residents, or 0.7 percent.

Susquehanna County‘s population decreased by 385 residents, or 0.9 percent, according to the data.

Read more:   http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/minimal-losses-in-lackawanna-luzerne-wyoming-counties-in-latest-census-estimates-1.1458576

Pennsylvania: Census 2010 Results

Image via Wikipedia

Here are some results from Census 2010 for Pennsylvania.

Top five cities:

Philadelphia 1,526,006 (increase)

Pittsburgh 305,704 (decrease)

Allentown 118,032 (increase)

Erie 101,786 (decrease)

Reading 88,082 (increase)

Top five counties:

Philadelphia 1,526,006 (increase)

Allegheny 1,223,348 (decrease)

Montgomery 799,874 (increase)

Bucks 625,249 (increase)

Delaware 558,979 (increase)

Lancaster County is Pennsylvania’s sixth largest county with a population of 519,445 (increase).

Other 2010 Pennsylvania city/borough census data:

Boyertown’s population increased to 4,055

Royersford’s population increased to 4,752

Collegeville’s population decreased to 5,089

Pottsville’s population decreased to 14,324

Lansdale’s population increased to 16,269

Pottstown’s population increased to 22,377

Easton’s population increase to 26,800

Norristown’s population increased to 34,324

Wilkes-Barre’s population decreased to 41,498

York’s population increased to 43,718

Harrisburg’s population increased to 49,528

Lancaster’s population increased to 59,322

Bethlehem’s population increased to 74,982

Scranton’s population decreased to 76,089

Local townships – 2010 data:

West Pottsgrove Township’s population increased to 3,874

Upper Pottsgrove Township’s population increased to 5,315

Douglas (Montgomery) Township’s population increased to 10,195

New Hanover Township’s population increased to 10,939

Lower Pottsgrove Township’s population increased to 12,059

Amity Township’s population increased to 12,583

Limerick Township’s population increased to 18,074

To view the entire municipal census data, click on this link: http://www.psats3.org/

You will see 2010 census results for Pennsylvania municipalities now available.  You can download a read only spreadsheet in alphabetical order by county, then by municipality name.

Pennsylvania will lose another congressional seat.  We will drop from 19 to 18 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Pennsylvania’s population increased; however, there are other states whose populations are increasing faster.  Pennsylvania’s population grew by 3.4% between 2000 and 2010.  The Commonwealth’s official population stands at 12,702,379.  421,000 new Pennsylvanians were added since the 2000 census.

The national population growth rate is 9.7%.  States with higher population growth tend to be pro-business states.  Pennsylvania’s corporate tax is the highest in the nation at 9.9% which is a huge reason that is slowing down our growth!

Philadelphia Posts Net Gain In 2010 Census

Image via Wikipedia

For the first time in 50 years, Philadelphia showed a net population gain in the 2010 census.  This is very good news for our largest city. 

City living is becoming popular among young people and many cities are courting this new emerging “urban dweller” market.  The longing for the suburbs and a McMansion is evidently losing some market share with younger people and older folks who are downsizing and moving into walkable urban areas for convenience.

Philadelphia’s out-migration has finally ended and the city showed a net gain of 8,456 people.  The official population of Philadelphia is 1,526,006 residents.  While this is not a huge gain, compared to other decades when the city lost 50,000 to 100,000 residents at a clip, this is important.

Census numbers decide things like our state’s number of representatives in Congress and how much money we get from the federal government for various programs.

I hope other cities in Pennsylvania have some encouraging numbers as well.