After a recent drive through Cairo, Illinois (article forthcoming), and seeing the effects of decades of racial segregation and violence, and then economic decline and population loss, I wondered what other major and minor cities in the United States has experienced such steep and dramatic losses? Besides Cairo, Detroit and Wheeling, I asked my Facebook readers of other examples.
After a recent drive through Cairo, Illinois (article forthcoming), and seeing the effects of decades of racial segregation and violence, and then economic decline and population loss, I wondered what other major and minor cities in the United States has experienced such steep and dramatic losses? Besides Cairo, Detroit and Wheeling, I asked my Facebook readers of other examples.
Cairo, Illinois
- Peak Population: 15, 203 (1920)
- Recent Population: 2,831 (2010)
- % Change: -81%
- Timeframe: 90 years
Detroit, Michigan
- Peak Population: 1,849,568 (1950)
- Recent Population: 713,777 (2010)
- % Change: -61%
- Timeframe: 60 years
Buffalo, New York
- Peak Population: 580,132 (1950)
- Recent Population: 261,310 (2010)
- % Change: -55%
- Timeframe: 60 years
Wheeling, West Virginia
- Peak Population: 61,659 (1930)
- Recent Population: 28,486 (2010)
- % Change: -54%
- Timeframe: 80 years
Clarksburg, West Virginia
- Peak Population: 32,014 (1950)
- Recent Population: 16,578 (2010)
- % Change: -48.2%
- Timeframe: 60 years
New Orleans, Louisiana
- Peak Population: 627,525 (1960)
- Recent Population: 343,829 (2010)
- % Change: -45.2%
- Timeframe: 50 years
Huntington, West Virginia
- Peak Population: 86,353 (1950)
- Recent Population: 49,138 (2010)
- % Change: -43%
- Timeframe: 60 years
Charleston, West Virginia
- Peak Population: 85,796 (1960)
- Recent Population: 51,400 (2010)
- % Change: -40%
- Timeframe: 50 years
Rochester, New York
- Peak Population: 332,488 (1950)
- Recent Population: 210,565 (2010)
- % Change: -36.6%
- Timeframe: 60 years
Fairmont, West Virginia
- Peak Population: 29,346 (1960)
- Recent Population: 18,704 (2010)
- % Change: -36.2%
- Timeframe: 50 years
Gary, Indiana
- Peak Population: 178,320 (1960)
- Recent Population: 80,294 (2010)
- % Change: -54.97%
- Timeframe: 50 years
Do you have any other examples of cities that have seen such loss? Feel free to chime in below with the city or on the Abandoned Facebook page!
6 Comments
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St. Louis
856,796 (1950)
319,294 (2010)
% change: -62.73%
Time Frame: 60 years
East St. Louis
82,366 (1950)
27,006 (2010)
% change: -67.21%
Time Frame: 60 years
Galena, IL
14,000 (1850)
3,429 (2010)
% change: -75.50%
Time frame: 160 years
Prypiat, Ukraine
50,000 (1986)
0 (1986)
% change -`100.00%
Time frame: one week
What are the numbers for Scranton, PA?
Mike
143,333 (1930)
76,089 (2010)
53% loss. Their population has stabilized, so I would expect that with their ongoing redevelopment projects that Scranton will see an increase for 2020.
Youngstown, Ohio
Peak population: 170,002 (1930)
Current population: 66,982 (2010)
% change: -60.60%
Timeframe: 80 years
Cleveland, Ohio
Peak population: 914,808 (1950)
Current population: 396,815 (2010)
% change: -56.62%
Time frame: 60 years
East Liverpool, Ohio
Peak population: 26,243 (1970)
Current population: 11,195 (2010)
% change: -57.34%
Time frame: 40 years
Welch, West Virginia
Peak population: 6,603 (1950)
Current population: 2,406 (2010)
% change: -63.56%
Time frame: 60 years
Shenandoah, Pennsylvania
Peak population: 25,774 (1910)
Current population: 5,071 (2010)
% change: -80.32%
Time frame: 100 years
I'm headed up toward Cairo next week and appreciate your photos and purpose. I plan to do some shots and wondered if you have any advice or things I need to consider about shooting there. Your commitment to this cause is both admirable and valuable.