Mississippi is a state that has a lot of history, culture, and natural beauty. However, it also faces many problems like poverty, unemployment, education, health, and crime. Many residents have faced challenges that have led them to look for better opportunities and quality of life in other places. As a result, the state’s population has decreased.
The most recent U.S. Census data shows that Mississippi’s population decreased by 0.7% from 2020 to 2022. This decline is unusual, as only a few states are experiencing a decrease in population. During the same period, cities like Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Hattiesburg also saw their populations decrease by at least 0.5%.
However, some towns in Mississippi are losing population more slowly than others. There are many reasons why populations decline at different rates. These reasons can include things like economic problems, social issues, environmental concerns, or a lack of amenities. In this blog post, we will discuss five towns that have experienced a significant decrease in population and explore the reasons behind this mass departure.
1. Clarksdale
Clarksdale is a city in Coahoma County, Mississippi. It is famous for being the birthplace of the blues and has a strong musical history. The town has cultural attractions like the Delta Blues Museum and the Rock and Blues Museum. However, it also has challenges such as high poverty (38.4%), unemployment (10.9%), and crime (77.8 per 1,000 residents). The number of people living in Clarksdale has been decreasing over time. In fact, it is the town in Mississippi that has been shrinking the fastest. From 2020 to 2022, there was a 2.4% decrease in population.
2. Laurel
Laurel is located in Jones County, in the southern-central part of the state. It is well-known for being featured on the HGTV show “Home Town.” However, the city faces challenges such as low income, a graduation rate of 76.9%, and a crime rate of 51.4 per 1,000 residents. The population of the town has been decreasing over time. From 2020 to 2022, it decreased by 1.1%. As a result, Laurel is now the second-fastest shrinking town in Mississippi.
3. Natchez
Natchez is a city located in Adams County in the southwest corner of Mississippi. It has a lot of interesting history and beautiful buildings. However, the city also has some economic problems. Many people in Natchez have low incomes, with the median household income being $32,758. Additionally, the poverty rate in the city is quite high at 28.9%. The number of people living in Natchez has been going down slowly. It decreased by 0.9% from 2020 to 2022. Because of this, Natchez is now the third town in Mississippi that is shrinking the fastest.
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4. Greenville
Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi. It is part of the Mississippi Delta region. Greenville has a rich cultural heritage, but it also faces challenges such as high poverty rate (37.8%), unemployment, and crime rate (67.3 per 1,000 residents). The number of people living in the town has been going down consistently. From 2020 to 2022, there was an extra decrease of 0.8%. Because of this, Greenville is now the fourth town in Mississippi that is shrinking the fastest.
5. Meridian
Meridian is located in Lauderdale County in the east-central part of the state. It is known as the birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers. However, the city faces some challenges including low income, a graduation rate of 79.7%, and a crime rate of 49.9 per 1,000 residents. The number of people living in Meridian has been decreasing gradually. From 2020 to 2022, there was a 0.7% decrease in population. As a result, Meridian is now the fifth-fastest shrinking town in Mississippi.
In summary:
These five towns in Mississippi are losing a lot of people because they are facing many difficult problems. These communities have charm and potential, but their population is declining. We can help by implementing good policies, making investments, and starting initiatives to revive them.
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