ANDERSON — While the state’s population has gone up more than 6.5 percent, both Anderson and Madison County as a whole have declined in population — a trend the area has seen for decades.
Anderson’s population dropped by six percent from 2000 to 2010, going from 59,734 to 56,129, according to U.S. Census data released Thursday afternoon. Madison County only dropped by 1.3 percent during that time, from 133,358 to 131,636.
Madison County was the 10th largest county in 2000 while Anderson was the ninth largest city. Both are now ranked 13th, according to the data. The only cities declining in population more than Anderson were Gary, with a nearly 22 percent drop in population, and South Bend, declining by 6.1 percent.
Rob Sparks, executive director for the Corporation for Economic Development, said he wasn’t too surprised by the decline and said the city fared better than anticipated.
“It represents the continued evolution our community has seen the last 30 years,” he said. “We are moving away from an industrial base and manufacturing jobs. In 2000 we still had a few General Motors facilities here and now those jobs are gone. When the jobs leave, the families that lived here leave too.”
The population stayed more stable than he expected, and Sparks said he expects additional census data to help him and others explore the change even more.
“Our biggest challenge is to continue to hone in our quality of life issues and attract families that want to live here,” Sparks said. “We continue to try to attract new investments.”
County Commissioner John Richwine said he wasn’t surprised to hear of the decline.
“People are moving where the jobs are,” he said. “We’ve lost our fair share of jobs here. That’s probably a lot of the shift you have seen. We are all working hard trying to get new jobs in here.”
Anderson Economic Development Director Linda Dawson said city officials expected the final count to be between 55,500 and 56,500. She said Anderson’s population tally of 56,129 was “really right in the area we were thinking with the number of foreclosures of homes and the economy that it’s been the last two years.”
Dawson said the drop from ninth largest to 13th largest should not deter efforts to sell the city to outside investment.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever once said ‘We’re in the top 10,’” she said.
Carmel and Fishers doubled in population in the past 10 years, and Noblesville’s population gained more than 80 percent. Dawson said their locations south of Anderson on the Interstate 69 corridor bodes well for Anderson and Madison County’s future.
“It took 10 years for the synergy from Indianapolis to catch up with Carmel and Fishers and Noblesville, and we’re the next step up the interstate,” she said. “I have no doubt in the next census in 10 years, we’re going to see a significant increase in the population. ... The metropolitan sprawl is a powerful force.”
Staff writer Dave Stafford contributed to this report.