program demographics

Every ten years, there is a census which determines the population of places throughout the country, along with the demographics of those populations. A lot can happen in ten years that would affect the size of a city or county. Industry could leave a place, causing the population to plummet, or on the contrary, industry could grow and expand, causing the population to boom. While the official population will stay the same until the next census, there is a yearly survey that monitors the growth of population, although not as extensive. This facilitates the tracking of population growth and decline on a yearly basis, and can be helpful on many levels. The 2014 data has just been released, and there are some growing trends that should be focused on. To see more in depth versions of these statistics, visit Census Quick Facts and allcolumbusdata.com The decline of the American rust belt is still in effect in northern Ohio, as Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Lucas (Toledo), and Mahoning (Youngstown) all reported a decline in population over the last year. This should not come as a shock to most, as that region has been declining for close to five decades, and although it seems to be tapering off, it is still an area that will need to be revitalized in the future. It is important to note that the two counties to the west of Cleveland reported growth, which could indicate a lack of investment in the city itself, as opposed to the whole metro area. Columbus and central Ohio continue to be growing at record pace. An estimated 25,000 people moved into the Columbus metro area over the last year, and of that 25,000, 15,000 moved into the city of Columbus¹. Columbus has been the largest city in the state since 1990, and currently has 822,000 people, and continues to rise.² The other region that reported notable growth was the Cincinnati region. While Cincinnati has declined in similar fashion of Cleveland, they were not hit nearly as hard with de-industrialization. The population of Cincinnati proper has almost come to a halt, with a small amount of growth being reported. The counties around Cincinnati are growing quickly, which is causing growth in the region. Below is a map representing the changes in population over the last year in Ohio's counties. population change A lot can be inferred from population shifts, and while in depth, specific data is more useful in assisting Extension programs, this information can still positively impact existing programs. Being aware of what is going on within urban counties can be difficult, given the enormity of the population. By following growth trends in cities, you can determine what to do with the influx in potential clients, or what ways you can better serve the population that is staying in an area that people aren't staying in. Many of these situations are very unique, and relative, but in subsequent posts, we will explain potential issues and options for people working in cities that are growing, shrinking, or staying the same!   Written by: James Stiving Peer Reviewed by: Julie Fox     References 1. U.S. Census Bureau; generated by James Stiving; using American FactFinder; <http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/39049.html>; (28 March 2015). 2. Evans, Walker. "Columbus Region Grows by Over 25,000 in Past Year." ColumbusUndergroundcom. Columbus Underground, 26 Mar. 2015. Web. 28 Mar. 2015. 3. "All Columbus, Ohio Data." All Columbus Ohio Data. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.