Once a year the Census Bureau ranks the size of the nation's counties, and Cleveland State demographer Mark Salling says the local news hasn't been good for a number of years
SALLING: Since 2000, Cuyahoga County has lost more population than any other county in the country.
That's about 98,000 people, over that time span. Salling adds that the surrounding counties also haven't faired very well, but their losses have been masked by the people they've gained from Cuyahoga. Delaware County, north of Columbus ranks as the fastest growing community in the state, and in the top twenty growth regions in the country. By and large the nation's growth areas continue to be in the South and the West, with places like Delaware and Kendall County near Chicago bucking the trend. If there's any good news for Cuyahoga, it might be that last year's loss of some 13,000 people is less than the previous year. But, Mark Salling says that may not be the place to look for a sliver lining.
SALLING: As there are fewer people to leave, we'll see smaller numbers of people leaving.
