A new report in advance of the 2020 U.S. Census shows most area communities are shrinking. Danville’s estimated population for 2018 of 30,898 is down 469 from the previous year. It is a 1.5 percent drop and represents the largest decrease of any of Illinois’ big cities.
Statewide some 1,040 cities and villages in Illinois saw population declines, while 171 saw at least one more person living there than in 2017.
In our area the city showing the biggest gain in population was Champaign. The Census Bureau report estimates that Champaign’s population was 88,029 in 2018 – up from 87,716 the previous year. Champaign’s population has grown by 6,974 or 8.6 percent since 2010.
The official U.S. Census will be taken in 2020, but here are some findings in the preliminary report released Thursday (May 23, 2019):
- Estimates show Urbana’s population fell by 213 to 42,046 between 2017 and 2018.
- Estimates show Westville’s population fell by 49 over the year, dropping from 3,039 in 2017 to 2,990 in 2018.
- The estimates show Georgetown’s population fell by 52 – from 3,286 in 2017 to 3,234 in 2018.
- Oakwood lost 22 people between 2017 and 2018 according to the Census Bureau estimates. The new estimate places Oakwood’s population at 1,507.
- The Census Bureau estimates there were 5,079 people living in Hoopeston in 2018 — down from 5,104 the previous year.
- In Chrisman, the Census Bureau estimates there were 1,245 residents in 2018 – down 4 from 2017.
- In Catlin, the report estimates there were 1,952 residents in 2018 – down 13 from the previous year.
- In Rossville the report estimates there were 1,235 residents in 2018 – 20 fewer than in 2017.
- In Bismarck the estimated 539 people living there in 2018 compares to 550 in 2017.
The population losses in the Census report are spread far and wide across the state.