Population Loss in Nonmetro Counties Continues

The number of people living in nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) counties stood at 46.2 million in 2014, representing nearly 15% of US residents spread across 72% of the Nation's land area. Nonmetro areas lost population between July 2013 and 2014, continuing a 4-year trend. While hundreds of individual nonmetro counties have lost population over the years, this is the first recorded period of overall population decline. The recent economic recession, increased global competition, and technological changes led to widespread job losses in rural manufacturing and have contributed to the nonmetro population decline since 2010. Also, suburban expansion and migration to scenic retirement/recreation destinations have weakened since 2010. Not all nonmetro counties have lost population since 2010. Approximately 700 nonmetro counties had population increases, together adding over 400,000 residents. New growth patterns have emerged in post-recession years. Population growth continued in most areas of the Mountain West but slowed considerably for the first time in decades.