Census projections show population dropping slightly in East Alabama

William Thornton | wthornton@al.com By William Thornton | wthornton@al.com
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on May 23, 2013 at 1:00 PM, updated May 23, 2013 at 1:03 PM

PELL CITY, Alabama -- Census estimates show the populations of several east Alabama counties have dropped over the last two years.

Take Calhoun County - in 2012, its estimated population was 117,296, down from 118,572 in 2010, according to census estimates released this week. Cities within the county also experienced mild decreases:

Anniston: 22,749 in 2012; 23,106 in 2010.
Oxford: 17,139 in 2012; 17,197 in 2010.
Jacksonville: 12,430 in 2012; 12,548 in 2010.

It was a similar story in neighboring Etowah County, where the population went from 104,430 two years ago to 104,392. In Gadsden, the estimated population was 36,674 last year, down from 36,856.

Talladega County and Cleburne County also had slight decreases. Talladega County went from 82,291 in 2010 to 81,762. Cleburne's estimated population was 14,832 last year, down from 14,972 two years before.

St. Clair County, though, was not among those losing residents. The county's estimated population for 2012 was 85,237, an increase from 83,593 in 2010. For example, Pell City had an estimated 13,129 residents, up from 12,695 two years before.

Neither was Cherokee County, bucking the trend slightly with 26,021 residents in 2012, up from 25,989 in 2010.

http://blog.al.com/east-alabama/2013...ow_popula.html