May 24, 2018 3 min read

Blair Zimmerman did not need figures, did not need time to contemplate answers. Asked about the significant population drain confronting Greene County, the Democratic county commissioner slung an arrow at an obvious target.

Coal’s bitter decline.

“That is probably 90 percent of it,” Zimmerman said over the phone Wednesday morning, in response to a Census report showing Greene has lost about 5 percent of its population since 2010. “Part of it is that a lot of people have retired and moved to the South, where the weather is warmer.

“But when these mines close and we don’t have jobs available that pay the same kind of money, people with skills will be looking to go elsewhere. We’re trying to bring manufacturing into Greene County, trying to bring in other opportunities to be ready for the future.”

The U.S. Census Bureau today released 2017 population estimates for states, counties and municipalities nationwide, along with other data. The numbers, which had been under a media embargo since Tuesday morning, provide a barometer for residential growth and decline.

Decline was the operative word in Greene, where all 26 municipalities lost population, according to the estimates. Clarksville was the closest to breaking even, posting a loss of seven residents from the official 2010 Census total of 230.

Greene, the data show, lost 1,916 in population during that seven-year period, a 5 percent drop.

The county’s estimated 2017 population of 36,770 was 59th among the commonwealth’s 67 counties; Greene ranked 46th in 2010 with 38,686.

Washington County also posted a loss, but a modest one – three-tenths of 1 percent, or 550 people. Its estimated population fell to 207,298 from the 2010 figure of 207,848.

Of its 66 municipalities, only six gained residents: Cecil, Chartiers, North Strabane, Peters, South Strabane and Union townships. Cecil experienced the largest estimated increase – 1,189 residents – followed by North Strabane (1,132), Peters (808), South Strabane (108), Chartiers (107) and Union (5).

But 30 of the 60 towns that lost people experienced only marginal declines, of 40 or fewer. Conversely, the populations of California and East Washington fell by more than 400 residents over the period. California’s population declined from 6,795 to 6,364, and East Washington’s from 2,234 to 1,830.

As in 2010, four Washington County municipalities show populations of 10,000-plus. Peters leads the way at 22,021, ahead of North Strabane (14,540), Washington (13,566) and Cecil (12,460).

That number for Washington, the county seat, was 97 below the 2010 Census figure of 13,663.

Cecil registered an impressive 10.5 percent gain from its 2010 population of 11,217. Township manager Don Gennuso was gratified to hear that. “It’s certainly a good thing that reflects on the community in a positive way. We’re obviously a destination for people to relocate.”

North Strabane’s population has jumped 8.4 percent over the seven years, a growth similar to Cecil. Those numbers bumps are positive harbingers for their public schools.

“These communities benefit greatly from the Canon-McMillan School District,” said Andrew Walz, North Strabane’s new manager.

”North Strabane offers a great place to live, a great police department, fire service second to none and a beautiful park near the municipal building.”

Counties bordering Washington and Greene likewise posted decreases. Fayette’s population fell 3.7 percent; Westmoreland’s 3.4; and Beaver’s 2.6. Allegheny held mostly steady, losing an estimated 290 people.

Pennsylvania gained population during the seven-year stretch – 102,680 to be exact, an eight-tenths of a percentage point hike to 12,805,537.

New York remained the runaway leader among the nation’s most populous cities with an estimated 8,622,698 residents, more than twice that of runner-up Los Angeles (3,999,759). The rest of the top 10, in order: Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas and San Jose.