Champaign County population is declining according to U.S. Census data, but not as fast as neighboring counties. From the News-Gazette in April:
Latest Census Bureau estimates show Illinois' populations in declineMore data at the full article here. WCIA had additional coverage, including a video segment here. Excerpt:
For the first time this decade, Champaign County has fewer people than it did the year before. But the slight drop is nothing compared to the population plummets elsewhere in Illinois...
— Of Illinois' 102 counties, 82 suffered population drops. Among them: Champaign (down 0.1 percent — matching the decline for the C-U metro area); Ford (0.4); Piatt (0.4); Douglas (0.8); and Vermilion (1.2).
— With the real Census a year away, Champaign remains Illinois' 10th largest county. But losing 121 residents knocked it back below 210,000 (to 209,983) — still comfortably ahead of No. 11 Sangamon (195,348).
Larger places which usually see an increase in population are losing people, including Champaign County. Census data shows it's mainly people between the ages of 25 - 54. Last year 86 counties saw a population loss. The year before it was 80 counties. This was the fitth year in a row Illinois saw significant population loss. Some places like Champaign County saw a decrease in poplulation when in years past there's been growth...The U.S. Census of Agriculture's data on Champaign County was also highlighted in the News-Gazette yesterday, specifically on consolidations and internet access.
Other cities which saw decline included Decatur, Springfield, Rockford and Bloomington. No other city shrank faster than Danville. In fact, Danville is listed as the fourth fastest shrinking city in the entire country.
Ag census finds area farmers are connecting, consolidating moreMore data, including comparisons to other counties, at the full article here.
In 2007, 64 percent of Champaign County farmers had internet access. A decade later, that's up to 80 percent, though most don't have a cable that provides the internet.
About 48 percent of Champaign County farmers get their internet from mobile devices, and 26 percent get their internet from satellite...
As mobile and satellite access has increased, dial-up and DSL access has decreased.
About 16 percent of Champaign County farms still use DSL, while less than 10 of the county's 1,214 farms use dial-up...
The latest ag census also shows that farms are continuing to consolidate, with 16 percent fewer farms in Champaign County between 50 and 1,000 acres compared to 2012.
The total number of farms in the county declined from 1,312 to 1,214, even as the number of farms above a thousand acres increased by only one — from 193 to 194.
On the opposite end, the number of small farms increased in Champaign County, with the number of farms of less than 50 acres increasing from 385 in 2012 to 402 in 2017.
Update: The News-Gazette had additional census updates for area towns later in May here.
No comments:
Post a Comment