Babies, immigrants boost population in northern suburbs
By Cathey O'Donnell • March 23, 2010

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Westchester, Rockland and Putnam continued to grow in population last year despite losing more than 100,000 residents who have moved away from the Lower Hudson Valley since Census 2000.




All three counties boosted their populations because of strong birth rates combined with international migration, which helped to offset the estimated 109,927 people who left the region over the past nine years. At the same time, the three counties saw a combined total of 59,939 new residents counted as international migration.
"This region does lose a lot of people," said Brian Connolly, a planner with the Westchester County Planning Department. "We can speculate the reasons. Some of it relates to job losses, but it's also the high cost of housing and the overall high cost of living."
Here is a glimpse of the 2009 population estimates:
• Putnam: 99,265, increase of 175 people since 2008
• Rockland: 300,175, increase of 1,426 since 2008
• Westchester: 955,962, increase of 6,127 since 2008

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• New York State: 19.5 million, increase of 73,644 since 2008.


Connolly said the county is most concerned about the loss in population of those ages 20 to 40. For that reason, the planning department is participating in a joint workforce development study with southern Connecticut to improve access to job sites, create more affordable housing closer to work and to reduce traffic congestion.
"The study is geared toward attracting and retaining the talent that we have," Connolly said. "College graduates and entry-level workers simply cannot afford to live here."
Westchester's population was 955,962 last year, a 3.5 percent increase since Census 2000, according to Census Bureau estimates released today. In that time, however, the county lost an estimated 79,141 residents who moved elsewhere. Even so, Westchester gained 32,503 residents because of a strong natural increase (births minus deaths) and international migration.

With the increase, Westchester ranked 45th among the nation's largest counties. The population estimates come from the 2009 American Community Survey and are the last ones before the actual head count now being conducted for the decennial census.

The population figures also show why it's vital for everyone in the county to fill out their Census 2010, especially in Westchester, Connolly said. Despite the county's population increase, other areas of the country are growing much faster.
"Every Census form not filled out in Westchester means money will go somewhere else," Connolly said.
In Rockland, the county's overall population reached a new milestone of more than 300,000 residents, a 4.7 percent increase since Census 2000. The county has added 13,412 people because of a strong natural increase and international migration. Rockland's 2009 estimate was 300,173
The international migration figures include those born overseas, movement between the United States and Puerto Rico, native-born residents who spent time overseas and moved back and members of the Armed Forces who served overseas.
Putnam County's population rose 3.7 percent since Census 2000, with an estimated total increase of 3,520 people. The county's population stood at 99,265 people last year, according to the estimates.
Statewide, New York's total population of 19.5 million last year also grew by 3 percent since Census 2000, with the addition of 564,642 residents. However, nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers have moved away from the state over the past nine years.
Experts predict that New York will lose at least one Congressional seat because the state isn't growing as fast as others, particularly in the south. Connolly worries that if not enough people fill out their Census forms, the state could lose two Congressional seats.
"The loss of clout in Congress will be very damaging to New York state," Connolly said. "We could lose funding, our clout in the presidential election and the loss of Congressional representation."


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