Chicago area sees greatest population loss of any major U.S. city

[James Park]

The Chicago area lost an estimated 6,263 residents in 2015 — the greatest loss of any metropolitan area in the country. That puts the region's population at 9.5 million.

While the numbers fell overall, there were some bright spots in the Chicago area: Will, Kane, McHenry and Kendall counties saw growth spurts, according to census data.

The Chicago region's decline extended to the state. In fact, Illinois was one of just seven states to see a population dip in 2015, and had the second-greatest decline rate last year after West Virginia, census data show. While the state's population dropped by 7,391 people in 2014, te number more than tripled in 2015, to 22,194.

The plunge is mainly a result of the large number of residents leaving the state last year — about 105,200 in all — which couldn't be offset by new residents and births, according to census data. The last year Illinois saw its population plunge was 1988.

The potential fallout is both political and financial. Federal and state government dollars are often distributed to local government agencies based on population; so the population loss creates long-term budget concerns. Communities pouring millions into new roads and schools, for example, based on rosy projections of future growth are left with fewer taxpayers to cover the cost.

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/...