America’s big industrial cities are shrinking as people move to the South and West and to the suburbs, according to new Census estimates released today (AP via Centre Daily Times). Phoenix is now the country’s fifth-largest city, surpassing Philadelphia.

According to new Census Bureau estimates released today, the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas are in the South and West. See the press release for details, including tables and maps.

Without an influx of immigrants, many metropolitan areas would be shrinking as native-born Americans move farther out (AP via Centre Daily Times).

Outside of areas directly affected by Hurricane Katrina, Pittsburgh had the steepest population decline from 2000 to 2006 (AP via Centre Daily Times).

A PaSDC brief (PDF) shows that in 2005, Pennsylvania had the 5th largest number of housing units in the nation.

Under a new program being promoted by Gov. Rendell, Pennsylvania would become one of three states to provide health insurance coverage to all uninsured children (Philadelphia Inquirer, August 11, 2006).

The Census Bureau today released new data from the American Community Survey (ACS) for the first time. The data show demographic and social characteristics of areas with a population of 65,000 or more. For more information, see the Census Bureau press release and the ACS Web site.

Related news coverage:

• Census: New arrivals fan out (USA Today)
• Census Shows Growth of Immigrants (New York Times)
• Minorities rise in most US states (BBC News)
• ‘Explosion of diversity’ sweeps U.S., census shows (AP via CNN.com)
• Philly’s population smaller, more diverse (AP via Centre Daily Times)
• Population corrosion continues for region (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

This News Brief, from the PaSDC, shows detailed 2005 Population Estimates.  Minorities and persons of Hispanic origin now account for the majority of the population growth in PA ,while several age groups, including persons 25-44 and the elderly, have declined.

The following two News Brief’s were published in June 2006 on the PaSDC’s web site.

• Pennsylvania’s High School Graduates (PDF) - This Brief gives chacteristics of graduates as well as drop-out rates and college bound students.
• 2005 Population Estimates Released for Pennsylvania Municipalities (PDF) - Philadelphia remains the nation’s 5th largest city.  East Caln Township, Chester County, is the state’s fastest growing municipality.

This map (PDF file) is from the PaSDC. It shows the disbursement of Owner-Occupied Housing Units with Householder age 65 and over for counties in PA .

This map (PDF file) is from the PaSDC.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health plans to create the Office of Health Equity to “collaborate with state agencies, academic institutions and community groups to improve the health status of racial minorities and other groups” (Minorities’ health focus of new state office, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 20, 2006).