Special Report

Fastest Shrinking County in Every State

tab1962 / iStock

The United States has added about 17 million people since 2010, but growth has been far from even nationwide. While some areas contributed considerably to the national population growth, others have been shrinking at a fast pace.

Though nationwide the population grew by 5.3% since 2010, there are many places in the United States that are losing hundreds, sometimes thousands of residents every year. Examining population changes at a more local level, the county levels, reveals that across the country there are some counties that have lost more than 10% of their populations since 2010.

In fact, in nearly every state in the country there is at least one county or county equivalent where the overall population has declined. Reviewing population change figures from the Census Bureau from July 2010 through July 2017, 24/7 Wall St. identified the fastest shrinking county in each state. In four states — Delaware, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii — no county’s population has declined. In states that do not have counties we reviewed what the Census Bureau treats as the equivalent to a county.

For the United States as a whole, natural growth — births minus deaths — is the largest source of population growth. Following natural growth, immigration from other countries accounts for the rest of the population growth. In the fastest shrinking county in each state, however, most of the population decline is due to people moving away at a much faster rate than they are arriving.

24/7 Wall St. spoke to Dr. William Frey, a demographer with the Brookings Institution, about national migration trends. While he explained that there are many reasons for residents to leave a place, including the search for cheaper housing, Frey noted that jobs have traditionally been one of the main reasons people into or out of an area. In the vast majority of the fastest shrinking counties on this list, the unemployment rate is higher compared to the state unemployment rate.

To identify the fastest shrinking county in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the seven-year population estimate change from the U.S Census Bureau’s Annual Estimates of the Resident Population from July 2010-July 2017. Only counties with a base population (from April 2010) greater than 10,000 were considered. If a county had a seven year population decline but an increase over either the most recent three- or two-year period, it was, it was excluded.

Click here to see the fastest shrinking county in every state.
Click here to see the fastest growing county in every state.

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers / Wikimedia Commons

1. Alabama: Macon County
> 2010-2017 population change: -12.8% (21,506 to 18,755)
> 2010-2017 population change, Alabama: +1.9% (4,785,579 to 4,874,747)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -2,454
> 2017 unemployment: 5.8% (Alabama: 4.4%)

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naql / Flickr

2. Alaska: Kodiak Island Borough
> 2010-2017 population change: -1.5% (13,652 to 13,448)
> 2010-2017 population change, Alaska: +3.6% (714,015 to 739,795)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,388
> 2017 unemployment: 5.1% (Alaska: 7.2%)

Adbar / Wikimedia Commons

3. Arizona: Cochise County
> 2010-2017 population change: -5.3% (131,782 to 124,756)
> 2010-2017 population change, Arizona: +9.5% (6,407,002 to 7,016,270)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -9,495
> 2017 unemployment: 5.6% (Arizona: 4.9%)

BOB WESTON / Getty Images

4. Arkansas: Phillips County
> 2010-2017 population change: -14.3% (21,675 to 18,572)
> 2010-2017 population change, Arkansas: +2.8% (2,921,737 to 3,004,279)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -3,476
> 2017 unemployment: 5.8% (Arkansas: 3.7%)

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Rex_Wholster / Getty Images

5. California: Lassen County
> 2010-2017 population change: -10.5% (34,831 to 31,163)
> 2010-2017 population change, California: +5.9% (37,327,690 to 39,536,653)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -4,499
> 2017 unemployment: 5.6% (California: 4.8%)

Jeffrey Beall / Wikimedia Commons

6. Colorado: Rio Grande County
> 2010-2017 population change: -6.0% (12,025 to 11,301)
> 2010-2017 population change, Colorado: +11.1% (5,048,029 to 5,607,154)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -817
> 2017 unemployment: 4.3% (Colorado: 2.8%)

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brandtbolding / Getty Images

7. Connecticut: Litchfield County
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.0% (189,829 to 182,177)
> 2010-2017 population change, Connecticut: +0.2% (3,580,171 to 3,588,184)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -5,572
> 2017 unemployment: 4.3% (Connecticut: 4.7%)

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8. Delaware: No county with population decline
> 2010-2017 population change, Delaware: +6.9% (899,712 to 961,939)

Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons

9. Florida: Madison County
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.2% (19,248 to 18,449)
> 2010-2017 population change, Florida: +11.3% (18,846,461 to 20,984,400)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -652
> 2017 unemployment: 4.4% (Florida: 4.2%)

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kenlund / Flickr

10. Georgia: Macon County
> 2010-2017 population change: -9.1% (14,641 to 13,314)
> 2010-2017 population change, Georgia: +7.4% (9,712,696 to 10,429,379)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,377
> 2017 unemployment: 7.0% (Georgia: 4.7%)

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11. Hawaii:: No county with population decline
> 2010-2017 population change, Hawaii: +4.7% (1,363,817 to 1,427,538)

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JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD / Wikimedia Commons

12. Idaho: Gooding County
> 2010-2017 population change: -2.2% (15,462 to 15,124)
> 2010-2017 population change, Idaho: +9.3% (1,570,912 to 1,716,943)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -834
> 2017 unemployment: 2.4% (Idaho: 3.2%)

Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons

13. Illinois: Cass County
> 2010-2017 population change: -8.3% (13,635 to 12,505)
> 2010-2017 population change, Illinois: -0.3% (12,841,196 to 12,802,023)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,360
> 2017 unemployment: 4.5% (Illinois: 5.0%)

OZinOH / Flickr

14. Indiana: Blackford County
> 2010-2017 population change: -6.2% (12,771 to 11,976)
> 2010-2017 population change, Indiana: +2.7% (6,490,029 to 6,666,818)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -641
> 2017 unemployment: 4.0% (Indiana: 3.5%)

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Scott Romine / Wikimedia Commons

15. Iowa: Emmet County
> 2010-2017 population change: -8.1% (10,268 to 9,432)
> 2010-2017 population change, Iowa: +3.1% (3,050,223 to 3,145,711)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -787
> 2017 unemployment: 3.2% (Iowa: 3.1%)

25or6to4 / Wikimedia Commons

16. Kansas: Montgomery County
> 2010-2017 population change: -7.9% (35,353 to 32,556)
> 2010-2017 population change, Kansas: +1.9% (2,858,403 to 2,913,123)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -3,113
> 2017 unemployment: 5.2% (Kansas: 3.6%)

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40943981@N00 / Flickr

17. Kentucky: Martin County
> 2010-2017 population change: -11.3% (12,913 to 11,452)
> 2010-2017 population change, Kentucky: +2.4% (4,347,948 to 4,454,189)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,413
> 2017 unemployment: 7.3% (Kentucky: 4.9%)

Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons

18. Louisiana: Morehouse Parish
> 2010-2017 population change: -8.0% (27,872 to 25,641)
> 2010-2017 population change, Louisiana: +3.1% (4,544,871 to 4,684,333)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -2,243
> 2017 unemployment: 8.0% (Louisiana: 5.1%)

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19. Maine: Aroostook County
> 2010-2017 population change: -5.6% (71,697 to 67,653)
> 2010-2017 population change, Maine: +0.6% (1,327,568 to 1,335,907)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -2,861
> 2017 unemployment: 4.8% (Maine: 3.3%)

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Famartin / Wikimedia Commons

20. Maryland: Allegany County
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.5% (74,977 to 71,615)
> 2010-2017 population change, Maryland: +4.6% (5,788,099 to 6,052,177)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,872
> 2017 unemployment: 5.8% (Maryland: 4.1%)

funkadelic / Flickr

21. Massachusetts: Berkshire County
> 2010-2017 population change: -3.8% (131,294 to 126,313)
> 2010-2017 population change, Massachusetts: +4.5% (6,564,943 to 6,859,819)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -2,325
> 2017 unemployment: 4.3% (Massachusetts: 3.7%)

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76767740@N08 / Flickr

22. Michigan: Gogebic County
> 2010-2017 population change: -6.4% (16,399 to 15,342)
> 2010-2017 population change, Michigan: +0.9% (9,876,731 to 9,962,311)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -440
> 2017 unemployment: 6.1% (Michigan: 4.6%)

JonHarder / Wikimedia Commons

23. Minnesota: Renville County
> 2010-2017 population change: -6.6% (15,685 to 14,645)
> 2010-2017 population change, Minnesota: +5.0% (5,310,711 to 5,576,606)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,001
> 2017 unemployment: 4.5% (Minnesota: 3.5%)

24. Mississippi: Coahoma County
> 2010-2017 population change: -11.3% (26,106 to 23,154)
> 2010-2017 population change, Mississippi: +0.5% (2,970,437 to 2,984,100)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -3,910
> 2017 unemployment: 7.3% (Mississippi: 5.1%)

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Kbh3rd / Wikimedia Commons

25. Missouri: Pemiscot County
> 2010-2017 population change: -7.9% (18,271 to 16,826)
> 2010-2017 population change, Missouri: +2.0% (5,995,681 to 6,113,532)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,784
> 2017 unemployment: 7.6% (Missouri: 3.8%)

plant_diversity / Flickr

26. Montana: Fergus County
> 2010-2017 population change: -2.5% (11,580 to 11,291)
> 2010-2017 population change, Montana: +6.1% (990,507 to 1,050,493)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -35
> 2017 unemployment: 4.0% (Montana: 4.0%)

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

27. Nebraska: Dakota County
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.0% (21,032 to 20,186)
> 2010-2017 population change, Nebraska: +4.9% (1,829,956 to 1,920,076)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -2,351
> 2017 unemployment: 4.1% (Nebraska: 2.9%)

kenlund / Flickr

28. Nevada: White Pine County
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.4% (10,030 to 9,592)
> 2010-2017 population change, Nevada: +10.9% (2,702,797 to 2,998,039)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -507
> 2017 unemployment: 4.0% (Nevada: 5.0%)

Jorisvo / Getty Images

29. New Hampshire: Coos County
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.1% (32,974 to 31,634)
> 2010-2017 population change, New Hampshire: +2.0% (1,316,700 to 1,342,795)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -212
> 2017 unemployment: 3.4% (New Hampshire: 2.7%)

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dougtone / Flickr

30. New Jersey: Salem County
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.8% (65,982 to 62,792)
> 2010-2017 population change, New Jersey: +2.3% (8,803,708 to 9,005,644)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -3,020
> 2017 unemployment: 6.1% (New Jersey: 4.6%)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

31. New Mexico: Colfax County
> 2010-2017 population change: -11.4% (13,733 to 12,174)
> 2010-2017 population change, New Mexico: +1.1% (2,064,607 to 2,088,070)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,449
> 2017 unemployment: 6.0% (New Mexico: 6.2%)

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lightphoto / Getty Images

32. New York: Delaware County
> 2010-2017 population change: -6.0% (47,888 to 45,001)
> 2010-2017 population change, New York: +2.3% (19,405,185 to 19,849,399)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,887
> 2017 unemployment: 5.6% (New York: 4.7%)

DanTD / Wikimedia Commons

33. North Carolina: Northampton County
> 2010-2017 population change: -9.9% (22,034 to 19,862)
> 2010-2017 population change, North Carolina: +7.3% (9,574,247 to 10,273,419)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,585
> 2017 unemployment: 6.3% (North Carolina: 4.6%)

Andrew Filer / Wikimedia Commons

34. North Dakota: Barnes County
> 2010-2017 population change: -2.9% (11,060 to 10,734)
> 2010-2017 population change, North Dakota: +12.0% (674,518 to 755,393)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -217
> 2017 unemployment: 2.7% (North Dakota: 2.6%)

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

35. Ohio: Carroll County
> 2010-2017 population change: -5.1% (28,848 to 27,385)
> 2010-2017 population change, Ohio: +1.0% (11,539,282 to 11,658,609)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,271
> 2017 unemployment: 5.9% (Ohio: 5.0%)

jackgray0000 / Flickr

36. Oklahoma: Latimer County
> 2010-2017 population change: -6.7% (11,153 to 10,411)
> 2010-2017 population change, Oklahoma: +4.6% (3,759,529 to 3,930,864)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -772
> 2017 unemployment: 7.5% (Oklahoma: 4.3%)

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Thinkstock

37. Oregon: No county with population decline
> 2010-2017 population change, Oregon: +8.0% (3,837,073 to 4,142,776)

Publichall / Wikimedia Commons

38. Pennsylvania: Cambria County
> 2010-2017 population change: -7.2% (143,452 to 133,054)
> 2010-2017 population change, Pennsylvania: +0.7% (12,711,063 to 12,805,537)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -7,070
> 2017 unemployment: 6.1% (Pennsylvania: 4.9%)

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

39. Rhode Island: Bristol County
> 2010-2017 population change: -1.8% (49,808 to 48,912)
> 2010-2017 population change, Rhode Island: +0.6% (1,053,169 to 1,059,639)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: +202
> 2017 unemployment: 3.8% (Rhode Island: 4.5%)

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Upstateherd / Wikimedia Commons

40. South Carolina: Allendale County
> 2010-2017 population change: -13.1% (10,354 to 9,002)
> 2010-2017 population change, South Carolina: +8.4% (4,635,834 to 5,024,369)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,308
> 2017 unemployment: 6.9% (South Carolina: 4.3%)

JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD / Wikimedia Commons

41. South Dakota: Butte County
> 2010-2017 population change: -0.4% (10,145 to 10,107)
> 2010-2017 population change, South Dakota: +6.5% (816,227 to 869,666)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -152
> 2017 unemployment: 3.7% (South Dakota: 3.3%)

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Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) / Wikimedia Commons

42. Tennessee: Lauderdale County
> 2010-2017 population change: -8.8% (27,719 to 25,274)
> 2010-2017 population change, Tennessee: +5.7% (6,355,882 to 6,715,984)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -2,691
> 2017 unemployment: 5.9% (Tennessee: 3.7%)

mobili / Flickr

43. Texas: Dawson County
> 2010-2017 population change: -7.3% (13,827 to 12,813)
> 2010-2017 population change, Texas: +12.1% (25,241,648 to 28,304,596)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,416
> 2017 unemployment: 4.9% (Texas: 4.3%)

kenlund / Flickr

44. Utah: Emery County
> 2010-2017 population change: -8.4% (11,005 to 10,077)
> 2010-2017 population change, Utah: +11.8% (2,775,260 to 3,101,833)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,418
> 2017 unemployment: 5.2% (Utah: 3.2%)

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Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States / Wikimedia Commons

45. Vermont: Rutland County
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.0% (61,573 to 59,087)
> 2010-2017 population change, Vermont: -0.3% (625,842 to 623,657)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,658
> 2017 unemployment: 3.5% (Vermont: 3.0%)

Virginia Department of Transportation's photostream / Flickr

46. Virginia: Buchanan County
> 2010-2017 population change: -10.7% (24,082 to 21,514)
> 2010-2017 population change, Virginia: +5.5% (8,025,206 to 8,470,020)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,917
> 2017 unemployment: 7.6% (Virginia: 3.8%)

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Thinkstock

47. Washington: No county with population decline
> 2010-2017 population change, Washington: +9.9% (6,741,386 to 7,405,743)

Magnolia677 / Wikimedia Commons

48. West Virginia: McDowell County
> 2010-2017 population change: -16.5% (22,099 to 18,456)
> 2010-2017 population change, West Virginia: -2.1% (1,854,315 to 1,815,857)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -2,900
> 2017 unemployment: 8.5% (West Virginia: 5.2%)

Billertl / Wikimedia Commons

49. Wisconsin: Price County
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.6% (14,096 to 13,442)
> 2010-2017 population change, Wisconsin: +1.8% (5,690,403 to 5,795,483)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -221
> 2017 unemployment: 3.8% (Wisconsin: 3.3%)

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MR. Pockets / Wikimedia Commons

50. Wyoming: Sublette County
> 2010-2017 population change: -4.4% (10,254 to 9,799)
> 2010-2017 population change, Wyoming: +2.6% (564,376 to 579,315)
> 2010-2017 pop. change due to migration: -1,059
> 2017 unemployment: 4.4% (Wyoming: 4.2%)

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