The U.S. Census Bureau yesterday released population data for all 67 of Pennsylvania’s counties, showing that 37 counties lost population between the 2017 count and 2018, while 30 counties grew.
Indiana County’s population declined for the eighth straight time since the 2010 national census. The county’s population fell .45 percent, from 84,879 to 84,501. Going back to 2010, when the county had 88,865 residents, Indiana County is down 4.91 percent. The largest drop was from 2015 to 2016.
Westmoreland County was off .49 percent; Cambria County’s population fell by one percent; Clearfield was down .49 percent; Jefferson County was off .43 percent. Armstrong County’s population decreased by .93 percent. With two minor exceptions, Indiana County and its five neighbors are all on eight-year losing streaks in terms of population. Curiously, Clearfield and Jefferson each gained residents between 2012 and 2013, but only by a few dozen people.
The top three population gainers between 2017 and 2018 were Lebanon, Cumberland, and Monroe counties. The bottom three were Cameron, Potter, and Wyoming counties.
