The face of Northeast Ohio continues to change, and new statistics from the US Census Population Estimates Program reveal significant shifts in who lives where.
Our partners at the Akron Beacon Journal and Ohio.com reviewed the latest data (2015 to 2016) released March 21, examining 14 counties in Northeast Ohio.
What is the Population Estimates Program? The US Censure Bureau utilizes current data on births, deaths, and migration to calculate population change since the most recent decennial (every 10 years) census, and produces a time series of estimates of population. MORE
5 facts that show how Ohio is changing:
1. Cuyahoga County is no longer the most populous county in the state. That distinction now goes to Franklin, home to 16 cities (including Columbus), 10 villages, and 17 townships.
What's so great about Franklin County? Quoted in the Columbus Dispatch, one expert says the "secret sauce" is being a state capital with a major university. MORE
2. The 14-county region that includes Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown lost about 11,000 residents from 2015 to 2016.
3. In Greater Cleveland, it's all about the western counties: Lorain, Medina, Ashland and Wayne all grew.
4. The eastern counties are shrinking: In addition to Cuyahoga losing population, so did Summit, Stark, Portage, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula.
5. Cuyahoga County saw the fourth biggest population decline in the nation. Only Cook County (Illinois), Wayne County (Michigan) and Baltimore lost more people from 2015 to 2016.
Read more about the latest US Census figures from our partners at the Akron Beacon Journal and Ohio.com
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