Hollowed Out: The Cities Losing Their People
We're diving into the changing landscape of American cities, where population shifts are reshaping our communities in profound ways. I’m James A. Brown, and I hail from Rochester, New York, a city that has seen a drastic decline since its population peaked in 1950. Today, we’re under 210,000, with a third of our city vanished—and they're not coming back. This trend isn’t just a local issue; it’s happening across the nation. From West Virginia's 15% drop to Texas gaining 8 million people, we’re reshuffling ourselves based on jobs, weather, and affordability. But amidst all these numbers, I find myself pondering what really keeps people rooted in their hometowns and what we lose when they leave. Let’s explore these questions together.
Takeaways:
- Rochester, New York's population peaked in 1950, illustrating significant demographic shifts.
- Today, Rochester's population has dropped to under 210,000, reflecting a national trend of urban decline.
- The population changes across the U.S. indicate a reshuffling as people seek better jobs and affordability.
- Texas has gained 8 million people, while West Virginia's population has decreased by 15%, showcasing stark contrasts.
- Our choices about where to live often revolve around jobs, weather, and costs of living.
- The podcast raises profound questions about why people stay in certain places and what is lost when they leave.
Links referenced in this episode:
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Transcript
This is the Daily Note.
Speaker A:I'm James A.
Speaker A:Brown.
Speaker A: r city's population peaked in: Speaker A:Today it's under 210,000.
Speaker A:That's a third of our city gone, and they're not coming back.
Speaker A:That's the pattern playing out everywhere in America.
Speaker A:We're reshuffling ourselves.
Speaker A:West Virginia is down 15%.
Speaker A:Meanwhile, Texas gains 8 million people.
Speaker A:Utah is up 35%, while Maine shrinks.
Speaker A:Some of us follow jobs, weather, and affordability.
Speaker A:They're all rational choices that hollow out some places and make others boom.
Speaker A:But I'm taken with the question behind it all.
Speaker A:What makes someone stay where they are and what gets lost when they go?
Speaker A:Let me know on jamesabrown.net on that note.
Speaker A:I'm James A.
Speaker A:Brown, and as always, be well.
