2010 Census: Top Ten Population Losers

[Metro Jacksonville]

2010 Census: Top Ten Population Losers



Think things could be better in Jacksonville?  Here are ten cities that have their own problems to worry about, according to the census bureau.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-mar-2010-census-top-ten-population-losers

[Dashing Dan]

1. Detroit city, MI: 713,777 (-237,493)

While population loss was expected, no one imagined the drop would be this big after the city hosted the super bowl in 2006.

[duvaldude08]

Chicago is a real shocker, but then again not really. They have some serious crime problems that could be running people away.

[JeffreyS]

I am glad St. Louis has turned the corner. Are these numbers representative of people leaving to the suburbs or leaving the entire metros.

[Wacca Pilatka]

I haven't looked at the census numbers for metros, but it was my understanding that Pittsburgh and Cleveland's metro areas have been in the zero-growth area, Baltimore's not been much better, and Buffalo's and Detroit's metros are losing population.  New Orleans of course has the outlier of a hurricane and is coming back.  The other metros probably saw overall population growth.

[Cricket]

The truth is Fl and even Jacksonville may be the preferred destination for some of those same cities.

[fsujax]

I wouldnt think Birmingham would be on that list. It is a really nice city. Atlanta has just basically blown them away.

[duvaldude08]

The truth is Fl and even Jacksonville may be the preferred destination for some of those same cities.

This is actually true. I have met NUMEROUS Ohio and Detroit transplants that currently reside here. And each one I spoke with they say they love Jacksonville and will NEVER go back to their hometowns if someone paid them. Compared to others, Jacksonville is not so bad afterall.

[jcjohnpaint]

I will tell you what, being from the north, if any of those cities had the leadership of Jacksonville- they would be far worse.  Just think of how amazing this city could be if we had some good leadership.  This is why I am so happy to see such a turn around in St. Louis. 

[Cricket]

"Leadership" is one of those blame words we like to use when things are not going well. First of all, those leaders you refer to were elected by us, the people. So maybe it is we who screwed up. Secondly, no amount of vision, talent, brains, possessed by those who lead can turn around a city without money. We all want the city of Jacksonville to rise from the ashes yet mention a 1% (let's change that to a 1/4%) raise in taxes for schools, gentrification, building, whatever, and we all scream bloody murder. The solution is always to cut spending yet no one wants to say where to cut. We're all a bunch of cowards.

[Fallen Buckeye]

I'm one of the Ohio transplants. I was heavily recruited after graduating college (mostly to work in cities in the south or west) and so I got to meet a lot of people being recruited. Almost 90% of them always seemed to be from Rust Belt states and especially Michigan and Ohio. I'm from an especially poor area of Ohio (Southeast Ohio), so believe me, even with all the problems here, living in Jacksonville is like a night and day difference. Although, Jax was not my number one choice destination. I was actually shooting for Charlotte.

[finehoe]

I wonder if you compare the pre-consolidation city limit population of Jacksonville to the 2010 numbers what the result would be.

[Overstreet]

If you have school age kids and live in St Louis you'd likely want to move to the county. Just like the St Johns county migration.

[Bativac]

"Leadership" is one of those blame words we like to use when things are not going well. First of all, those leaders you refer to were elected by us, the people. So maybe it is we who screwed up. Secondly, no amount of vision, talent, brains, possessed by those who lead can turn around a city without money. We all want the city of Jacksonville to rise from the ashes yet mention a 1% (let's change that to a 1/4%) raise in taxes for schools, gentrification, building, whatever, and we all scream bloody murder. The solution is always to cut spending yet no one wants to say where to cut. We're all a bunch of cowards.

I agree with this a thousand times over. Problems in Jacksonville cannot solely be blamed on leadership - the citizens at large must share some of the blame. A vocal minority can do nothing to help matters when the majority continues to make their opinions known thru a combination of voting patterns and general apathy.

Nobody wants a tax increase. I understand that. But what I don't understand is that the local mindset seems to be actively anti-progress - they (and by "they" I mean your average Jacksonvillian) don't want an improved downtown, they don't want a better transit system, they don't want small independent businesses to thrive. They want popular chains, big-box retailers, and to be left alone. I and many other lifetime residents can attest to this.

Yeah, I doubt Mike Hogan will usher in a new era of greatness for Jacksonville - but it looks like he's the guy that a simple majority of voters want to be Mayor. The saying is true: people get the government they deserve.

[thelakelander]

I wonder if you compare the pre-consolidation city limit population of Jacksonville to the 2010 numbers what the result would be.

It will be the exact thing.  The actual pre-consolidated City of Jacksonville (our 32 sq mile urban core) has lost nearly 50% of the population and density it had in 1950.  Percentage wise, its right there with the Detroits, Clevelands, Toledos and Buffalos.  The loss has just been hidden by suburban growth in Duval County over the last 60 years.  When I get time, I'll check the 2010 census tract results and provide everyone with a more accurate number.