LOCAL POPULATION PLUNGE CONTINUES
Job loss, aging population causing downward trend

Census figures released last week paint a gloomy economic picture in both Potter and Cameron counties. Job losses and an aging population have caused both counties' populations to continue plunging.

In Potter County, the plummet is more like a free-fall. Last week's report set the population at 16,987 as of July 2007, down drastically from the 17,365 figure of July 2006. Potter's population peaked at a modern-day high of 18,125 in July 2002.

Meanwhile, Cameron County's steady decline continued, with the population at 5,349 in July 2007, a loss of 50 citizens over a one-year period.

Population decreases in Cameron have averaged about 90 per year this decade. The figure was 5,944 in 2000.

Both counties are aging. At the same time more retirees are relocating to the region and more high school graduates moving away, a larger proportion of long-time residents are reaching the end of their life expectancy.

Still, in Potter County there were slightly more births (1,528) than deaths (1,510) from 2000 to 2007. Over the same time span, 1,036 people moved out of Potter County.

Cameron County had more deaths (525) than births (395) from 2000 to 2007, at the same time 468 people moved away.

In Potter County, about 18 percent of the population is 65 or older; in Cameron County, the figure is 19 percent. Statewide, about 15 percent of the population is at least 65.

Some other statistics for the region point to economic struggle.

Potter County lost 14.4 percent of its jobs from July 2006 to July 2007, with 5,557 people working as of mid-2007. Much of that was attributable to the abrupt closing of the Time Warner (formerly Adelphia) customer contact center in Coudersport.

Median household income in Potter County was $36,088. Statewide average was $43,714.

Cameron County had a job loss of less than one percent to a figure of 2,641 as of July 2007. Median household income was $34,755.