Papers across the country were busy publishing the latest census figures yesterday for their local cities and towns.  Virtually everywhere in our local area including Wheeling, WV; Pittsburgh, PA; Weirton, WV; Steubenville, OH; St. Clairsville, OH and Martins Ferry, OH.  The only one to pick up population?  Scion, OH…from 761 to 763.

Frankly the results, while not what we would hope for aren’t very surprising for number junkies (hat tip to Dominick Cerrone of Good Mansion Wines for sending over a breakdown).  We have a great number of people in the upper brackets of the age range.  Simply put, deaths are going to outpace births for some time barring some major fortuitous event.

But there’s good news in the longer term picture if you really look at the numbers.

From Dom:

Wheeling’s population loss is significantly leveling off.  From 2000, to 2007, annual percentage loss went from 1.6% to 0.7%, basically leveling off each year.

Seven year trends are too short for any real significance, but it is also bad business to ingore what at least may be a microtrend.  By age group, Wheeling has one last large pool of older population that is probably in itself the cause for the loss (higher death to birth).  Once time passes, a truer indicator of growth or loss can be taken.  A longer term evaluation of the City’s population also shows a  major leveling off in loss.

I’ve talked with quite a few residents of the Valley that have lived here for some time and many – not all – are feeling the best they’ve felt about the direction of the Valley for either the first time ever in their lives or the first time in a long, long time.

The other thing to keep in mind is that we’re looking at city limits.  Many people will work in one town and live in another or live in an unincorporated area.  I fall into this category as well.  My company is based in downtown Wheeling, but I live just outside city limits in Triadelphia.

I really look forward to the in depth numbers the 2010 census will provide.  I’m hoping all the anecdotal evidence of a young, creative professionals moving / returning to the Ohio Valley bears out.

Tags: Dominick Cerrone, feel good stories, finding work, Good Mansion Wines, Pittsburgh census data, testimonials, Wheeling census figures