Allegheny County’s population has increased for the first time in a census since 1960.
The county’s population grew by 27,223 (2.2%) in the 2020 Census, released Thursday.
The county’s population is more than 1.25 million.
“For decades, it was resigned that when young people grew up they were going to leave for another place,” county Executive Rich Fitzgerald said. “I think you’ll see that turn around. What you’re going to see is continued growth.”
Allegheny, Butler and Washington counties were the only counties that grew in population over the past decade, according to the census.
Overall the state population increased 2.4%, from 12,702,379 in 2010 to 13,002,700 in 2020.
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Pittsburgh’s population remained over 300,000, but it shrunk by 2,733 people, according to the Census. That’s a loss of nearly a percentage point.
The population dipped from 305,704 in 2010 to 302,971 in 2020.
The city, its job and educational opportunities remain the driver for the county’s growth, Fitzgerald said.
“The universities and the urban core, that’s where the jobs are growing,” he said. “I think, over the last decade, we have seen more economic opportunity, more diversity, young people staying and young people moving in.”
It took a lot of work and many partners pulling together to turn things around. We still have work to do, but I am so proud to see evidence that our efforts are working. Our young people are staying, new people are arriving & we are more diverse. Now we build on this momentum.
— Allegheny Co. Exec. (@ACE_Fitzgerald) August 13, 2021
Westmoreland County’s population shrunk by 2.9%, from 365,169 in 2010 to 354,663 in 2020.
Indiana County posted the biggest decrease in population, shrinking by 6.3% from 88,880 in 2010 to 83,246 in 2020.
Butler County had the greatest population growth, a 5.4% gain, from 183,862 in 2010 to 193,763 in 2020. Washington County grew by 0.7%, from 207,820 to 209,349.
Pittsburgh Perspectives: First look at what the 2020 Decennial Census says about population change in the Pittsburgh region over the last decade. https://t.co/YbZn7xHlS4 pic.twitter.com/i8o5xJDuFe
— Social & Urban Rsch (@PittCSUR) August 12, 2021
In addition to providing work for numbers crunchers and demographers, release of the census data kicks off redistricting season, as population decides how Congressional districts are drawn.
Allegheny County’s population grown means there shouldn’t be a loss in representation in Congress or the state Legislature, Fitzgerald said.
RELATED: Census data kicks off effort to reshape U.S. House districts
