Orleans has one of biggest population declines among NY counties since 2010
The population is down in New York in the latest population estimates form the Census Bureau, which shows declines in 46 out of 62 counties. Orleans County has one of the steepest drops, according to the data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Orleans County had 42,883 people in the 2010 Census. It is down by 1,538 residents to 41,345, based on the 2016 population estimates. That drop of 3.57 percent ranks as the 55th most out of 62 counties.
The biggest population losses have been in upstate rural areas: Hamilton (down 6.22%), Delaware (5.12%), Tioga (4.48%) and Schoharie (down 4.36%).
The net migration for Orleans was down 1,497 since 2010. The Census reports that 1,762 people left the county and only 265 moved in since 2010. The change in natural increase (the difference between the number of deaths and births) was also down by 41 people.
In Western New York, only two counties saw population increases: Erie and Monroe, which are the largest counties in the region.
Monroe, which includes Rochester, was up 0.45 percent or by 3,325 people, while Erie County, which includes Buffalo, increased by 1,916 people or by 0.21 percent.
The smaller, rural counties in WNY all decreased in population since 2010. They include, from highest percentage of loss:
• Chautauqua, down 4.00 percent or by 5,400;
• Allegany, down 3.76 percent or by 1,842;
• Orleans, a decline of 3.57 percent or 1,538;
• Cattaraugus, a drop of 3.32 percent or 2,666;
• Wyoming, down 3.25 percent or by 1,371;
• Genesee, a decline of 2.43 percent or 1,462;
• Niagara, down 2.18 percent or 4,729;
• Livingston, down by 1.47 percent or by 960.
The Empire Center has an analysis of the latest population estimates, which show an overall decline in the state. The losses upstate were more than the gains in the New York City area. Click here for more information.
