Mike Faher and Randy Griffith
mfaher@tribdem.com
—
Cambria County lost nearly 6 percent of its population in the last decade, the fifth-biggest such decline among all counties statewide, new census data shows.
And of the county’s 8,919 lost residents, Johnstown played a big part:
The city’s population dropped by 2,928, or more than 12 percent.
Last year’s once-per-decade count by the U.S. Census Bureau was a bit kinder to Somerset County, which registered a nearly 3 percent population loss.
But Cambria’s numbers spurred a “wow” reaction from county Controller Ed Cernic Jr.
“We are losing so many people,” Cernic said. “We need something that is going to bring jobs. Jobs bring people.”
The census bureau’s data for Pennsylvania, released Wednesday, shows a stark contrast between the western and eastern halves of the state.
In the east, only six counties’ populations declined. But in the west, only three counties – Butler, Forest and Washington – gained any people.
Cambria’s losses were even more acute than most.
In terms of percentage, only four Pennsylvania counties – Cameron (14.9 percent), Elk (9 percent), Fayette (8.1 percent) and Beaver (6 percent) – were bigger losers in the census.
If Cambria’s population can’t rebound by the 2020 census, it could drop to a fifth-class county.
“That means a lot of things,” Cernic said.
“It means funding. It will determine how county government is run and everything. It could mean money to the airport and the (Cambria County) Transit Authority.
“There is a wide range of ramifications that could happen.”
The biggest percentage losses were in some small boroughs. Franklin Borough, economically distressed since the late 1980s, saw its population decline by nearly 27 percent to only 323 people.
Dale, South Fork, Ashville, Carrolltown and Vintondale also witnessed declines ranging from 17.9 percent (Dale) to 21.6 percent (Vintondale).
But Johnstown again stands out because of the sheer size of its decline. The once-bustling city, which could boast of more than 60,000 people in 1950, now is in danger of dropping below 20,000 in the next census.
City Councilwoman Marie Mock said joining forces with other municipalities may be the only sensible, long-term solution.
“We really, really need to start looking at consolidation,” Mock said. “It’s just the way survival is going to be.”
There were some bright spots in Cambria County.
In tiny Chest Springs Borough, an increase of just 39 people was good enough for a 35.5-percent jump in total population.
Allegheny Township registered a 14 percent increase, though some of that may be attributable to a federal prison there. The government counts inmates as residents.
And Ebensburg Borough climbed to 3,351 residents, an 8.4 percent rise. Mayor Randy S. Datsko was pleased with the report, crediting several new residential construction projects since 2000.
Graystone Court Villas on Candlelight Drive and apartments on New Germany Road added residential units, Datsko said.
“Those are both pretty large complexes,” Datsko said. “And in the past few years, we had a little mini housing boom in the borough. Houses were built on lots that had been vacant forever.”
Ebensburg’s central location between Altoona, Johnstown and Indiana may attract working couples who commute to different locations, he said.
“Our little motto is: It’s a great place to live, work and play,” Datsko said. “That may be shared by others.”
In Somerset County, one official was not surprised by the relatively moderate population decline.
“I had thought that our percentage loss might be higher, just due to the fact that we have an aging population,” Commissioner Jim Marker said.
That is particularly damaging in the long term, Marker said, because the region continues to see an outmigration of young people.
“When a child leaves, that’s eventually a whole family that’s not in your county,” he said.
One of the biggest losers in terms of percentage was New Centerville Borough, which lost 60 people. But because the borough started with a head count of just 193 in the 2000 census, that was good for a 31 percent decline in the 2010 count.
Also declining by about 17 percent were Stoystown, Hooversville and Salisbury boroughs. Somerset, the county seat, shed 485 residents for a 7.2 percent decline since 2000.
On the plus side, Middlecreek and Somerset townships showed growth of more than 9 percent. The numerical disparity, though, was great between the two because of their different sizes: Middlecreek gained just 78 people while Somerset Township pulled in 1,034.
Census results
Municipality 2010 2000 Change % change
population population
CAMBRIA
Adams Twp. 5972 6495 -523 -8.05
Allegheny Twp. 2851 2498 353 14.13
Ashville Borough 227 279 -52 -18.64
Barr Twp. 2056 2175 -119 -5.47
Blacklick Twp. 2013 2200 -187 -8.5
Brownstown Bor. 744 883 -139 -15.74
Cambria Twp. 6099 6323 -224 -3.54
Carrolltown Bor. 853 1049 -196 -18.68
Cassandra Bor. 147 136 11 8.09
Chest Springs Bor. 149 110 39 35.45
Chest Twp. 349 346 3 0.87
Clearfield Twp. 1604 1680 -76 -4.52
Conemaugh Twp. 2012 2145 -133 -6.2
Cresson Borough 1711 1631 80 4.9
Cresson Twp. 4336 4055 281 6.93
Croyle Twp. 2339 2233 106 4.75
Daisytown Bor. 326 356 -30 -8.43
Dale Borough 1234 1503 -269 -17.9
Dean Twp. 391 408 -17 -4.17
East Carroll Twp. 1654 1798 -144 -8.01
E. Conemaugh Bor. 1220 1291 -71 -5.5
East Taylor Twp. 2726 2726 0 0
Ebensburg Bor. 3351 3091 260 8.41
Ehrenfeld Bor. 228 234 -6 -2.56
Elder Twp. 1038 990 48 4.85
Ferndale Bor. 1636 1834 -198 -10.8
Franklin Bor. 323 442 -119 -26.92
Gallitzin Bor. 1668 1756 -88 -5.01
Gallitzin Twp. 1324 1310 14 1.07
Geistown Bor. 2467 2555 -88 -3.44
Hastings Bor. 1278 1398 -120 -8.58
Jackson Twp. 4392 4925 -533 -10.82
Johnstown city 20978 23906 -2928 -12.25
Lilly Borough 968 948 20 2.11
Lorain Borough 759 747 12 1.61
Loretto Borough 1302 1190 112 9.41
Lower Yoder Twp. 2699 3029 -330 -10.89
Middle Taylor Twp. 727 792 -65 -8.21
Munster Twp. 690 675 15 2.22
Nanty Glo Bor. 2734 3054 -320 -10.48
N. Cambria Bor. 3835 4199 -364 -8.67
Patton Borough 1769 2023 -254 -12.56
Portage Borough 2638 2837 -199 -7.01
Portage Twp. 3640 3906 -266 -6.81
Reade Twp. 1619 1764 -145 -8.22
Richland Twp. 12814 12598 216 1.71
Sankertown Bor. 675 680 -5 -0.74
Scalp Level Bor. 778 851 -73 -8.58
South Fork Bor. 928 1138 -210 -18.45
Southmont Bor. 2284 2262 22 0.97
Stonycreek Twp. 2844 3204 -360 -11.24
Summerhill Bor. 490 521 -31 -5.95
Summerhill Twp. 2467 2724 -257 -9.43
Susquehanna Twp. 2007 2198 -191 -8.69
Tunnelhill Bor. 245 291 -46 -15.81
Upper Yoder Twp. 5449 5862 -413 -7.05
Vintondale Bor. 414 528 -114 -21.59
Washington Twp. 875 921 -46 -4.99
West Carroll Twp. 1296 1445 -149 -10.31
West Taylor Twp. 795 862 -67 -7.77
Westmont Bor. 5181 5523 -342 -6.19
White Twp. 836 813 23 2.83
Wilmore Borough 225 252 -27 -10.71
SOMERSET
Addison Bor. 207 214 -7 -3.27
Addison Twp. 974 1019 -45 -4.42
Allegheny Twp. 692 654 38 5.81
Benson Borough 191 194 -3 -1.55
Berlin Borough 2104 2192 -88 -4.01
Black Twp. 926 980 -54 -5.51
Boswell Borough 1277 1364 -87 -6.38
Brothersvalley Twp. 2398 2415 -17 -0.7
Callimont Bor. 41 51 -10 -19.61
Casselman Bor. 94 99 -5 -5.05
Central City Bor. 1124 1258 -134 -10.65
Conemaugh Twp. 7279 7452 -173 -2.32
Confluence Bor. 780 834 -54 -6.47
Elk Lick Twp. 2241 2293 -52 -2.27
Fairhope Twp. 134 137 -3 -2.19
Garrett Borough 456 449 7 1.56
Greenville Twp. 668 718 -50 -6.96
Hooversville Bor. 645 779 -134 -17.2
Indian Lake Bor. 394 450 -56 -12.44
Jefferson Twp. 1423 1375 48 3.49
Jenner Twp. 4122 4054 68 1.68
Jennerstown Bor. 695 714 -19 -2.66
Larimer Twp. 595 590 5 0.85
Lincoln Twp. 1519 1669 -150 -8.99
L. Turkeyfoot Twp. 603 672 -69 -10.27
Meyersdale Bor. 2184 2473 -289 -11.69
Middlecreek Twp. 875 797 78 9.79
Milford Twp. 1553 1561 -8 -0.51
N. Baltimore Bor. 180 168 12 7.14
N. Centerville Bor. 133 193 -60 -31.09
Northampton Twp. 343 366 -23 -6.28
Ogle Twp. 501 588 -87 -14.8
Paint Borough 1023 1103 -80 -7.25
Paint Twp. 3149 3300 -151 -0.05
Quemahoning Twp. 2025 2180 -155 -7.11
Rockwood Bor. 890 954 -64 -6.71
Salisbury Bor. 727 878 -151 -17.2
Seven Springs Bor. 25 126 -101 -80.16
Shade Twp. 2774 2886 -112 -3.88
Shanksville Bor. 237 245 -8 -3.27
Somerset Bor. 6277 6762 -485 -7.17
Somerset Twp. 12122 11088 1034 9.33
Southampton Twp. 630 655 -25 -3.82
Stonycreek Twp. 2237 2221 16 0.72
Stoystown Bor. 355 428 -73 -17.06
Summit Twp. 2271 2368 -97 -4.1
U. Turkeyfoot Twp. 1119 1232 -113 -9.17
Ursina Borough 225 254 -29 -11.42
Wellersburg Bor. 181 176 5 2.84
Windber Bor. 4138 4395 -257 -5.85
OTHERS
Armagh Borough 122 131 -9 -6.87
E. Wheatfield Twp. 2366 2607 -241 -9.24
Indiana Bor. 13975 14895 -920 -6.18
Seward Borough 495 484 11 2.27
N. Florence Bor. 689 784 -95 -12.12
St. Clair Twp. 1518 1398 120 8.58
Ligonier Bor. 1573 1695 -122 -7.2
Ligonier Twp. 6603 6973 -370 -5.31
Altoona city 46320 49523 -3203 -6.47
Bedford Bor. 2841 3141 -300 -9.55
Source: U.S. Census Bureau,
with assistance from Scott Koontz.
