Panhandle Population Loss Concentrated in Small Towns

The Census Bureau's recent population estimates for July 1, 2008 show an increase in population during the decade for Sidney, Scottsbluff, Terrytown, Potter, and Lodgepole.

Despite the slight demographic gain in these communities, the 11-county Panhandle region has seen its population decline to an estimated 85,813 persons in 2008, a 5% decline since the 2000 Census.

The region's population declines are concentrated in the smallest towns. Excluding Terrytown which annexed hundreds of homes after the 2000 Census, the aggregate population of Panhandle towns under 2,500 has declined by 10% since 2000.

This event of small town decline is not limited to the Panhandle, though. An AP article titled "Big Towns Bigger, Small Smaller in Nebraska" shows the trend of small town decline is evident throughout the state.

The article states "the populations of Nebraska's incorporated cities and villages with up to 10,000 people dipped faster than in same-sized towns in Iowa and Kansas.....Conversely, cities with at least 50,000 residents grew at a faster clip in Nebraska than their big-town brethren in the other two states."

The entire article is available at: http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=327100

Population estimates for all Nebraska towns and counties can be found at www.census.gov

How the national economic recession has impacted the region's population over the past twelve months will not be revealed until county estimates are released next spring.