Population Growth and Decay Across the U.S.

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According to USA Today, the fastest growing city in the United States is The Villages in Florida. In 2010 it had a population of 94,279 people and increased to 125,165 people in 2017. Between 2010 and 2017 the population increased by 30,886 people, or 32.8%, with a growth rate of 1.33. The fastest shrinking city in the country is Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In 2010 it had a population of 100,093 and decreased to 90,963 in 2017, which means the population decreased by 9,130 individuals. This also includes a percent decrease of 9.12% and a decay factor of .91.

 

In the fastest shrinking cities, such as Pine Bluff, the unemployment rate is greater than the national average. Also, it is possible that the reason some cities are growing faster than others is because of climate change. More specifically, over half of the fastest shrinking cities are in areas that experience harsh winters, while most of the fastest growing cities experience milder weather. This could make some areas more or less desirable to live in and could impact the population of various areas. 

 

3 thoughts on “Population Growth and Decay Across the U.S.”

  1. I think these are really interesting statistics, but I would be interested in recorded relationships because there is a difference between causation and correlation. Maybe a graph or visual would be interesting to see the internal migration patterns within America could be a beneficial aid to the wonderful math you’ve provided us to mull over.

  2. This is interesting. I would like to point out that Florida (AKA Heavens Waiting Room) is known as a glorious retirement state for many old people. Seeing as the baby boomer generation are mostly elderly at this point, it helps to explain why areas in warmer states are finding increased flows of people. As for Arkansas, that make sense I have never heard anyone say anything fun to do there.

  3. I found this to be an especially interesting post, given some of its other consequences. The Villages indeed boasts the nation’s fastest growing population. As a result, there has been an effect on the balance of power in Florida politics, not to mention the other effects. There’s actually a really interesting Politico article that touches on the effects The Villages has had on politics in Florida and the nation.

    https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/06/18/florida-senior-citizens-vote-election-2018-218758

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