The 2010 decennial census shows that the populations of the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States continue to grow slowly relative to the South and West. This trend accounts for steady losses in the number of the Northeast-Midwest region's congressional seats. However, population growth within the Northeast-Midwest region has not been uniformly sluggish. In particular, a closer look at the Northeast-Midwest region's largest cities reveals that some cities have enjoyed population growth while other cities' populations have held steady or plummeted dramatically over time. This Note to the Coalitions, "Inside the Northeast-Midwest: Population Change in the Region's Largest Cities," summarizes the story that U.S. Census Bureau data can tell about how the populations of the region's largest cities-and in some cases, their metro areas-have fared since the 1950s, when many Northeast-Midwest cities' populations were at their peak. It also offers possible explanations for divergent patterns of population change among these cities.

For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.