(Undated)– The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its final county and metropolitan area population estimates ahead of the 2010 census. The new estimates show more than three-quarters of Iowa’s counties losing population between 2000 and 2009.
Locally, Dickinson and Sioux counties were the only ones in our region posting gains during the period. Dickinson county saw its population grow by one percent; the increase for Sioux county was 2.2 percent.
All other counties in the region experienced declines. Kossuth county saw a drop of 11.5 percent; Osceola county was down 9.1 percent; Palo Alto county posted a 8.5 percent decline; O’Brien county experienced a decline of 7.6 percent; and Emmet county was down 6.8 percent.
The biggest loser was Pocahontas county, which saw a drop of 14.6 percent between 2000 and 2009.
Census officials emphasize the figures are estimates only and that the 2010 census will provide an important check on their accuracy. Officials say that spells out the importance of everyone completing and returning their census forms in a timely manner.
