2010 Census: Top Ten Population Losers

[Wacca Pilatka]

I wouldnt think Birmingham would be on that list. It is a really nice city. Atlanta has just basically blown them away.

Metro Birmingham has seen growth, but there has been a lot of migration from the city to the suburbs.

[Wacca Pilatka]

I wonder if you compare the pre-consolidation city limit population of Jacksonville to the 2010 numbers what the result would be.

It will be the exact thing.  The actual pre-consolidated City of Jacksonville (our 32 sq mile urban core) has lost nearly 50% of the population and density it had in 1950.  Percentage wise, its right there with the Detroits, Clevelands, Toledos and Buffalos.  The loss has just been hidden by suburban growth in Duval County over the last 60 years.  When I get time, I'll check the 2010 census tract results and provide everyone with a more accurate number.

I'd be more inclined to group it with the Birminghams (overall metro area growth, but migration from city to suburbs) than with places like Toledo or Buffalo that have seen their metro areas stagnate or decline in population.  Not to dismiss the fact that the pre-consolidated city has suffered a tremendous and disheartening loss in population and density and connectivity, of course.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Nobody wants a tax increase. I understand that. But what I don't understand is that the local mindset seems to be actively anti-progress - they (and by "they" I mean your average Jacksonvillian) don't want an improved downtown, they don't want a better transit system, they don't want small independent businesses to thrive. They want popular chains, big-box retailers, and to be left alone. I and many other lifetime residents can attest to this.

I agree, but I'd also argue that if you talk to the same group of people, in many of them you will find pride in the postcard image of downtown Jacksonville as well as nostalgia for the core city that used to be, and many of the small businesses therein.  (Not to mention, more pride in Jacksonville's history and heritage than you might expect.)  These are sentiments that can be channeled in a useful direction, I think.  To some degree, Godbold and Delaney did it.  I thought Audrey could do it.

[thelakelander]

Good point.  More like Detroit, Cincinnati, Birmingham and St. Louis, as far as inner city shrinking while the metro area still has overall growth, due to booming suburbs.

[duvaldude08]

I wonder if you compare the pre-consolidation city limit population of Jacksonville to the 2010 numbers what the result would be.

It will be the exact thing.  The actual pre-consolidated City of Jacksonville (our 32 sq mile urban core) has lost nearly 50% of the population and density it had in 1950.  Percentage wise, its right there with the Detroits, Clevelands, Toledos and Buffalos.  The loss has just been hidden by suburban growth in Duval County over the last 60 years.  When I get time, I'll check the 2010 census tract results and provide everyone with a more accurate number.

At the same time, Consolidation is the reason oururban core has lost 50% of its population. I remember they posted pictures from that huge parade they had downtown right after the consolidation. They were celebrating but little did they know it was going to be downtown's great demise.

[tufsu1]

At the same time, Consolidation is the reason oururban core has lost 50% of its population. I remember they posted pictures from that huge parade they had downtown right after the consolidation. They were celebrating but little did they know it was going to be downtown's great demise.

I'm not sure you can pin the loss of urban core population solely (or even primarily) on consolidation...if that were the case, cities that didn't consolidate like Baltimore, Cleveland, St. Louis, and Detroit wouldn't show population loss....fact is, there are a multitude of reasons why cities have lost population since 1950...all consolidation did in Jacksonville was mask the issue.

[buckethead]

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-03-28/americas-shrinking-cities

Sounds familiar!

[Jumpinjack]

A few weekends ago, PBS had two half hour documentaries called Making Sense of Place. The first focused on Cleveland and the second on Portland. The series was very well done, talked a lot about the investment made in Cleveland to bring back the downtown and the eventual failure due to urban flight and economic downturn.

Very interestingly, the planners took nearby suburbs to downtown as models of what could be done to revitalize.  Highly recommend this series if WJCT repeats it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSEGDL96zo0

[Fallen Buckeye]

One thing I think is interesting about Ohio cities is that Columbus is still growing despite being in the same region with arguably less assets as far as transportation and accessiblity compared to Cleveland and Cincy. I mean both Cleveland and Cincinatti have larger airports and are next to important inland waterways (Lake Erie and the Ohio River), and Columbus has no passenger rail period. Makes you wonder what is different about Columbus compared to other rust belt cities. It just makes you why there is such a difference in prosperity.

[Wacca Pilatka]

One thing I think is interesting about Ohio cities is that Columbus is still growing despite being in the same region with arguably less assets as far as transportation and accessiblity compared to Cleveland and Cincy. I mean both Cleveland and Cincinatti have larger airports and are next to important inland waterways (Lake Erie and the Ohio River), and Columbus has no passenger rail period. Makes you wonder what is different about Columbus compared to other rust belt cities. It just makes you why there is such a difference in prosperity.

Part of it, I think, is that Columbus has a larger land area that the other Ohio cities and has space for suburban-type communities.  As with Jacksonville, you can have flight from the inner city and still stay within the city limits, masking core city population decline.  I don't think that's the case with Cincinnati and Cleveland.  Incidentally, I don't think metro Cincinnati is declining in population, just the city itself.  I do think Cleveland's metro was declining, and not just the city itself, last I checked.

Also, I'm sure OSU is a big driver of Columbus' economy and an asset to entice residency within the city limits.

[Lunican]

This is a really good map showing population gains and losses.

http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map

Although this is not the case for Detroit, looking at Chicago there were huge population gains in the core of the city and the losses came from surrounding neighborhoods, mostly on the south and west sides.

Looking at Jacksonville; Springfield is down about 20%, Riverside down about 7%, Durkeeville down 22%.

The pre-consolidated city of Jacksonville looks like Cleveland.

[I-10east]

What?!! About time every metro isn't a gleaming utopia of brilliance compared to Jax in every facet (like some MJers believe). We are actually sticking to the topic, and calling a spade a spade! Now that's what I call progress on MJ!

[hillary supporter]

These figures should be considered alongside state population growth (and loss). Florida is a big gainer in population vs NYs loss. Jacksonville is the cheapest place of the FL east coast.
There are many things that could change for the better in Jax, but i've no regret in relocating here from NYC. A nd thats as an artist who makes a living here.

[buckethead]

Alright, Hil... Lets see some of the work.

You have a website?

[I-10east]

There are many things that could change for the better in Jax, but i've no regret in relocating here from NYC.

You're preaching to the choir.