Census: Youngstown still shrinking, but not as fast

YOUNGSTOWN — When it comes to the highest percentage of population loss between the 2010 census and the latest estimate, Youngstown ranks sixth among all cities with at least 50,000 residents.

The city’s population has dropped from 66,982 in 2010 to 65,062 in a 2014 estimate, a loss of 1,920 residents, according to data recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

That’s a 2.87 percent decline.

Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally said he was “pleasantly surprised” the population loss in the city is not greater.

The city is averaging a loss of 480 residents a year so far this decade. Between 2000 and 2010, the city averaged a loss of 1,504 annually.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, 400 or so people lost a year isn’t that bad” for Youngstown, McNally said. “We’re not losing 1,000-plus a year. It’s smaller, and it’s a leveling off of population loss. Our goal is to get that number to a zero loss.”

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com