Fayette, Greene continue to see population decline
Fayette County's population dropped from 136,606 in the April 2010 Census to an estimated population of 130,441 as of July 2018, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported drops in the estimated populations of Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties between 2010 and 2018. Fayette and Greene lost the highest percentage, while Westmoreland lost the most people during during the eight-year period.
Fayette, Greene and Westmoreland counties have continued to experience declines in their population, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The 2018 population estimates, released last week, indicate a 684-resident drop in Fayette, 343-person drop in Greene and a 1,710 drop in Westmoreland. Washington, whose population dropped only 0.23% since the 2010 Census, gained 50 residents, according to the estimate.
If the estimates are accurate, both Fayette and Greene counties could find themselves dropped in the class of county, which is based on population.
The class of county determines grant and other funding a county is eligible to receive.
“I really don’t like the idea of dropping down a class,” Fayette County Commissioner Dave Lohr said. “I’d like to stay where we’re at.”
Fayette’s 2010 Census population was listed at 136,606. The 2018 estimate is 130,441. A fourth class county, Fayette’s population was below the threshold to retain that class designation in 2010. Because that was the first time the county was below the minimum 145,000 population, however, it was permitted to retain its fourth class status. The county’s total population loss between the 2010 Census and the 2018 estimate is 4.5%.
“I would not be surprised if the U.S. Census Bureau population estimates of such a drop will turn out to be the (actual numbers) when released,” said Fayette County Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink.
She said some factors for the decline includes the politics of the county as well as the crime and social conditions.
Lohr said Fayette’s struggle to maintain population is no different than that of many other counties. He said county leaders need to be vigilant and look for ways to keep the numbers up.
“I want to build the county so it draws people in instead of losing people,” he said.
Greene, a sixth class county, is also below the minimum population threshold of 45,000 to stay there. In 2010, they had 38,686 residents. The latest estimate, though, lists the county with 36,506 people making a home there.
At 5.64%, Greene has seen the highest percentage drop in population, locally, while Westmoreland has seen the largest number loss at 14,558. Westmoreland’s 2010 population was 365,169, while the 2018 estimated population is 350,611, a 4.11% drop.
Greene County Commissioner Blair Zimmerman said there are many factors that could have resulted in the declining population.
He said a part of it could be from a drop off in the oil and gas industry, or from the older population moving to warmer climates while the younger generation moves away to find different jobs.
However, Zimmerman is optimistic about the future. He noted a recent uptick in the gas industry, and plans for economic development in the region as ways to stabilize or increase the population in the next five to 10 years.
“We’re optimistic that the 2020 Census will tell a different story,” Zimmerman said, adding that opportunities like the cracker plant in Beaver County could help with Greene’s population. “We won’t get back to the old numbers in the immediate future, but I think we’ll see some stabilization and a slight increase.”
Lohr, too, expressed patient optimism.
“It takes an aircraft carrier five miles to turn around in the middle of the ocean,” Lohr said. “That’s what we’re doing, but the aircraft is the county.”