Calhoun County’s population is continuing a very gradual decline, according to statistics recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
A new population estimate of 14,745 was recently released for the county by the Census Bureau, which is a slight decrease from the 14,962 recorded in 2010.
The 2010 figure was a decrease from the 15,052 reported in the 2000 census. The highest recorded population for Calhoun County came in the 1980 census at 15,664.
The figures show an average decrease in population of approximately 30 people each year, a trend that Calhoun Economic Development Association Director Shelia Freely said needs to be stopped.
“I am concerned about our population dropping,” Freely said. “We need to be growing, not shrinking – even if our numbers are only slightly declining. Each citizen in our county will potentially work, shop, spend money, and add economic value to our area. This will benefit our existing and future citizens.”
The Census Bureau will announce its latest estimates for towns in the coming months. It’s 2013 estimates were: Bruce 1,915; Calhoun City 1,757; Vardaman 1,292; Derma 1,012; Pittsboro 200; Big Creek 152; and Slate Springs 109.
“It is a monumental task, but together we can continue creating a county that folks will ‘move to’ and not ‘move from,’” Freely said. “Somehow, we must create a positive approach to this issue and try to turn the current trend of decline into growth.”
Calhoun isn’t alone in the trend of decline. Among the surrounding counties, only Lafayette and Pontotoc counties are showing increases since the 2010 Census. Lafayette showed the highest growth spurt in the state with a near 12% increase in population over the last five years at 52,930.
Pontotoc County showed a slight increase from 29,957 in 2010 to 30,950 in 2015.
The decreases among the other surrounding counties were very slight, similar to Calhoun. Population totals for those are Grenada 21,612; Chickasaw 17,313; Yalobusha 12,373; and Webster 9,987.