Latest population numbers show Orleans has one of steepest drops since 2010

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 March 2020 at 11:13 am

The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest population estimates show Orleans County has one of the largest population declines, by percentage, among the 62 counties in the state.

Orleans County had a population of 42,883 in the 2010 Census. The 2019 population estimate puts the county’s population at 40,352. That’s a drop of 2,531 people. The 5.90 percent reduction ranks 56 out of 62 counties.

Counties with a larger percentage decrease than Orleans include: 57th, Chautauqua, (-5.93%); 58th, Chemung, -6.05%); 59th, Essex, (-6.31%); 60th, Chenango, (-6.48%); 61st, Delaware, (-8.01%); and 62nd, Hamilton, (-8.68%).

The population changes for other nearby counties include:

• Genesee, 4.66 percent drop, from 60,079 to 57,280;

• Niagara, 3.32 percent drop, from 216,469 to 209,281;

• Monroe, 0.35 percent decrease, from 744,344 to 741,770;

• Erie, 0.04 percent decline, from 919,040 to 918,702;

• Livingston, 3.79 percent drop, from 65,393 to 62,914;

• Wyoming, 5.45 percent decline, from 42,155 to 39,859;

State-wide, New York’s population grew by 0.39 percent or 75,459, from 19,378,102 in 2010 to 19,453,561 to 2019.

Upstate declined by 2.00 percent or by 126,830 people, from 6,339,276 to 6,212,446. Downstate grew by 1.55 percent or 202,289 people, from 13,038,826 to 13,241,115.

The data shows that 45 of 50 upstate counties lost population since the 2010 Census. Only three downstate counties had population declines.

The Census Bureau does a population estimate every year. The latest numbers reflect a 12-month period ending last July 1.

The data shows that 50 counties in upstate New York lost 20,846 residents, a decrease of 0.33 percent, while the downstate region lost a combined total of 55,944 people, or 0.42 percent. New York City has lost population the past three years, after a long period of growth, according to analysis by the Empire Center.

International Migration

The Census Bureau also looks at international migration and domestic migration for the counties.

Orleans County added 194 people through international migration for a 0.45 percent growth rate, which ranked 42nd out of 62 counties.

Among the other GLOW counties, Genesee ranked 50th, adding 222 people at 0.37 percent rate; Wyoming was 58th, adding 82 for a 0.19 percent growth rate; and Livingston was 25th, adding 752 people for 1.15 percent rate.

Domestic Migration

Orleans had 2,654 move out, or 6.19 percent of population, the 50th highest rate among the 62 counties.

Among the GLOW counties, Genesee had 2,564 people move out, or 4.27 percent of its population which was 24th highest of the counties. Livingston had 2,841 people migrate away from the county or 4.34 percent, the 26th highest rate. Wyoming ranked 44th with a 5.75 percent migration rate with 2,424 people moving out of the county since 2010.

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