Pa.’s population increase in 2017 was the most dramatic in five years
Source: Pennsylvania State Data Center
Pennsylvania’s population is on the rise again, after declining in 2016 — but growth remains concentrated in certain spots, and most communities keep losing residents.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates show the state lost people during 2016, but added more than 18,000 last year, the most since 2012, according to a Keystone Crossroads analysis of the latest statistics.
Mirroring recent trends, major growth pockets are in the State College area, suburban Pittsburgh and the Southeastern part of the state, according to a recent Penn State Data Center report based on census estimates.
Twelve cities have added residents since the last decennial census. That’s about a fifth of them statewide, including Philadelphia, Allentown, Bethlehem, Lancaster and Scranton.
Populations are declining in more than 75 percent of boroughs, according to the Center’s report.
Two-thirds of townships lost residents, too.
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