Valley population loss leads nation

Staff, wire reports


The Youngstown-Warren metropolitan area led the nation in percentage of population loss, according to an estimate released Thursday — a finding that a prominent businessman said presents an opportunity to intensify economic development efforts.

The area, which includes Boardman and Mercer, Pa., lost 1 percent of its population from July 2006 to July 2007 — falling by 5,898 residents to 570,704 from 576,602, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated.

The percentage loss nearly doubled that of Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich., which suffered the nation’s largest population loss of 27,314, a 0.6 percent decrease.

On strictly numbers, Detroit lost more than three times as many people as any other metro area. Other areas losing more than 5,000 people were Youngstown, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, Ga., and Buffalo, N.Y.

Anthony Cafaro Jr., vice president of Youngstown real estate development firm The Cafaro Co., said the report shows the need to stress the area’s attributes.

‘‘There’s an opportunity for us to attract more workers based on competitive advantages we have — our low cost-of-living, roads and other infrastructure, our proximity to Cleveland and Pittsburgh, New York and Chicago and an airport that’s an untapped asset,’’ he said. ‘‘Hopefully, our government leaders and private leaders will work together to attract people and business.’’

A labor leader echoed the need to develop jobs that will attract and keep workers.

‘‘I don’t see too many people trying to keep jobs here,’’ said Jim Graham, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112 at the General Motors Corp. Lordstown Complex, the area’s largest manufacturing employer. ‘‘We need to start promoting this area and bring jobs back so young people have jobs to go to.’’

Population losses haunted the nation’s ‘‘Rust Belt.’’ The Cleveland-Elryia-Mentor area lost 0.4 percent, or 8,848 people. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y., shrank by 5,166 people, or 0.5 percent.

Nationally, four Texas metropolitan areas were among the biggest population gainers as Americans continued their trend of moving to the Sun Belt in 2006 and 2007.

Dallas-Fort Worth added more than 162,000 residents between July 2006 and July 2007, more than any other metro area. Three other Texas areas — Houston, Austin and San Antonio — also cracked the top 10.

Atlanta saw the second-largest population jump with just over 151,000 new residents. Phoenix was third with more than 132,000, and was followed by Houston, Riverside, Calif., Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, Austin, Las Vegas and San Antonio.

Of the 50 fastest-growing metro areas, 27 were in the South and 20 were in the West. Two were in the Midwest, one — Fayetteville, Ark. — straddles the South and Midwest and none was in the Northeast.

Experts credit much of the growth in the South to relatively strong local economies and housing prices that are among the most affordable in the U.S.

‘‘People are running away from unaffordable housing, from the economic slowdown,’’ said Karl Eschbach, a state demographer in Texas. ‘‘I would expect Texas to stay at the top of a slowing game.’’

According to figures compiled by Eschbach, 16 percent of Americans who moved to other states between July 2006 and July 2007 came to Texas, which led the nation for the second straight year in that category.

Home prices continue to be a big factor. A report earlier this month by Global Insight found that housing prices in the Dallas area were undervalued by as much as 30 percent.

Ann Sekesan, a pharmacy technician, moved her family from Pennsylvania to suburban Fort Worth last June after seeing spacious homes in Texas for under $200,000 on a television show.

‘‘After we saw that on TV, my husband and I looked at each other and said, ‘Have you ever been to Texas?’’ Sekesan said. ‘‘It’s amazing the size of a home you can get down here. It’s just incredible.’’