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Local News

Friday, July 03, 2009

Findlay's population falls again
By JOY BROWN

STAFF WRITER

Findlay's population in 2008 decreased for the fourth consecutive year, while most other towns in and around Hancock County held steady, according to estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

There were 36,987 people living in Findlay last year, which is 655, or 1.7 percent fewer than estimated in 2007, the Bureau said.

Last year's number is 3,091 fewer than in 2004, when the city's population was estimated at 40,078.

Last year's decline was not the biggest in Findlay this decade. That happened from 2004 to 2005, when the city lost an estimated 1,001 people.

Mayor Pete Sehnert said some might be tempted to attribute the city's population decrease to the August 2007 flood, the second highest on record, which left many homes and businesses irreparably damaged.

But he said he thinks "a variety of factors" caused the drop.

"I don't know if it was so much the flood. At least I hope it wasn't," Sehnert said. "I think most of our people who were affected either rebuilt or moved someplace else in the area. Maybe it's economics, because of people trying to look for different jobs elsewhere."

Sehnert pointed out that population declines were the trend in most other northwestern Ohio towns.

Fostoria's population dropped last year to 13,000, or 99 fewer than the previous year.

McComb remained the largest Hancock County village last year, but had the biggest village population drop, from 1,628 in 2007 to 1,599 in 2008, a decline of 29.

Arlington, the second largest county village, lost an estimated 24 people in 2008, with the Bureau estimating an 1,197 population compared to 1,221 in 2007.

The only nearby town with an estimated increase last year was North Baltimore. According to the Bureau, 3,341 lived there in 2008, three more than the year before.

North Baltimore officials could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The southern Wood County village had mixed economic news in 2008. Continental Structural Plastics eliminated 200 jobs, before calling back 55 this spring, and Johnson Rubber Co.'s Norbalt Rubber Corp. went bankrupt, putting 130 people out of work. But work began last year on a $60 million rail yard just west of North Baltimore that is expected to open in 2010 and employ up to 100.

Four of Ohio's six largest cities saw population decreases last year, the Census Bureau said, but Columbus experienced a 1.1 percent increase and Cincinnati held steady.

According to the Bureau, New Orleans was the fastest-growing city in the country in 2008, with an 8.2 percent increase. Its 2008 estimate was 311,853, up from 210,768 in 2006 following Hurricane Katrina, but it is still below the pre-hurricane level of 484,674 based on the 2000 Census.

Four of the 10 fastest-growing cities were in Texas, including Round Rock, north of Austin, which was deemed the second fastest growing city in the nation. Seven of the largest numerical gainers were on the West Coast.

New York City remains the nation's most populous, and led the country numerically by adding more than 53,000 residents for an estimated total of 8.4 million.

Annual estimates are used in federal funding allocations, in setting the levels of national surveys, and in monitoring recent demographic changes.

The next U.S. Census will occur in 2010.

"The 2010 Census questionnaire will be one of the shortest in history, consisting of 10 questions and taking about 10 minutes to complete," the Bureau states.

For more information, visit the Bureau's Web site at www.census.gov.

Brown: 419-427-8496,

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1 Comment

Lew wrote:
Stat checking
“ The writer may want to apply a calculator to the totals for the villages in Hancock County. Even though their numbers decreased in the double-digits, the percentages are similar to Findlay's decrease in population--and higher in some cases. Hardly seems like they've "held steady". ”
Friday, July 03, 2009 12:25:18 PM
   NEWS VIDEO

Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.