U.S. CENSUS Valleys are still losing people

Hermitage became the most populated community in Mercer County.
By JoANNE VIVIANO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
Population in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys continues to slide, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics.
Mahoning County lost 4,250 residents between April 2000 and July 2002, Trumbull County shrank by nearly 1,600 and Columbiana County's numbers slipped by 270.
In Pennsylvania, Mercer County has 780 fewer residents and Lawrence County has 540 fewer.
"The whole valley is still in a downward trend," said Tom Finnerty, associate director of the Department of Urban and Regional Studies at Youngstown State University.
The 2002 figures are based on estimates released Thursday by the Population Division of the Census Bureau. The 2000 figures are based on modified and updated Census 2000 data.
Youngstown's population dropped by 2,000 over the two-year span, but Finnerty said the figure is misleading and explainable because a private prison closed between 2000 and 2002 and the facility housed 2,000 inmates.
That leaves Mahoning County with 2,250 fewer residents outside the city. None of the listed communities gained residents.
"That's significant because a lot of the suburbs don't like to hear that this [decline] is from the rest of the county," Finnerty said. "They used to say it's just from Youngstown. Now, that's not the case. Other places are hurting.
"This is a whole East Coast phenomenon. It's not just here."
As the sizes of households become smaller, Finnerty said, losses are seen even in areas that seem to be growing.
While homes once held big families, they are now smaller. More homes may be built, but they hold fewer people.
Such is likely the case in Austintown and Boardman, Finnerty said.
While census figures do not list these communities individually, they are included in a balance of county population category that declined by 1,140 people.
County-by-county breakdown
In Trumbull County, the largest loss came in Warren -- 970 residents. Other communities experiencing loss are Niles (350), Girard (140) and Hubbard (100).
Gains were made in Lordstown, which has grown by 35 residents, and in townships not listed by name, where population grew by a total of five residents.
Columbiana County's largest declines were in East Liverpool (260) and Salem (120). Growth was seen in Columbiana, which grew by 79, and in townships not listed by name, where population grew by 105 total.
Lawrence County, Pa., saw the biggest slide in New Castle (600). Only communities not listed by name saw growth -- 325 total.
Mercer County saw its biggest losses in Sharon (470). Increases came in Hermitage, gaining 210 residents, and in communities not listed by name -- a total of 120.
The change means Sharon is no longer the Mercer County's most populated community. Hermitage has taken over the role.
In 2000, Sharon edged out Hermitage by 171 residents; but in 2002, it lagged by 501.
Finnerty called Hermitage the "Boardman of Mercer County."
Sharon is a classic case akin to Youngstown; the community has nowhere to grow, he said, adding there are no new houses and the ones that remain hold smaller families.
Natural decrease
Finnerty explained the five-county population decrease by pointing out that older populations are dying and there aren't as many young people having children to balance the decrease.
As the baby boomers age, they've passed the point where they're having children, and some are dying, so populations grow only when communities attract younger residents from outside.
"It is mostly due to natural decrease. Unless you give people a reason to come here, it will continue until we're all gone," Finnerty said.
"We have to start thinking regionally, so we can entice people to come to this valley."
viviano@vindy.com