(KTNC) - Nebraska's rural communities continue to lose population, while its metro areas continue to grow.
David Drozd (drews) with the University of Nebraska-Omaha Center for Public Affairs Research notes that 64 Nebraska counties lost population last year...though he points out that's better than previously when 79 counties lost population. (play audio :19)
Grand Island officially joined Omaha, Lincoln, and the Sioux City area as Nebraska metro areas. Drozd says that the disparity in population between the metro and rural areas of the state is apparent in the growth of Douglas, Sarpy, and Lancaster Counties last year. (play audio :25)
Drozd says that, for some counties losing population, the population decline is natural. (play audio :20)
Counties in far southeast Nebraska have lost population over the last two years. The only county to not lose population was Otoe County where the population remained steady, increasing by seven residents.
Counties in far northwest Missouri have also lost population in the last two years. Holt County had the highest percentage drop in the state, losing 3.3-percent of its residents. The Census data shows that Missouri’s population grew by about 13,000, with just over six-million residents as of last July 1.
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