Effingham Daily News, Effingham, IL

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May 16, 2011

Population down, diversity up

Cathy Thoele Effingham Daily News

EFFINGHAM — Several area cities and villages experienced a decline in population in the last decade. However, many saw an increase in ethnic diversity, according to 2010 Census results.

    Newton saw the biggest decline in population going from 3,069 residents in 2000 to 2,849 last year while its Hispanic or Latino population doubled to 34 residents, accounting for 1.2 percent of the population.

    Strasburg’s decline wasn’t quite as steep, decreasing by 136, bringing the village’s current count to 467. Not far behind is Louisville, which lost 103 residents since the last Census. Inversely, both villages experienced a slight increase in their Hispanic or Latino population, accounting for less than 1 percent of the populations.

    Edgewood lost 87 residents for a recent count of 440 while Mason lost 51, leaving its total at 345. Although Edgewood’s Hispanic population more than doubled, it still only makes up 1.6 percent of the population. In contrast, Mason’s Hispanic or Latino population decreased by half, accounting for 1.4 percent of the population.

    The much larger city of Effingham lost only 56 residents in the last decade, bringing its current count to 12,328. At the same time, the city more than tripled its Hispanic or Latino population, with 398 of them accounting for 3.2 percent of the total population.

    Other racial groups, including Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native and Asian, stayed steady, making up less less than 1 percent of the population.

    Several area communities saw lesser drops in population

    Both St. Elmo and Beecher City showed a drop of 30 residents, with St. Elmo’s population totaling 1,426 and Beecher City’s 463. Similarly, both counted an increase in their Hispanic or Latino population, but at less than 1 percent of the total population.

    Teutopolis’ population dropped from 1,559 in 2000 to 1,530 last year while Shumway had less of a drop, losing 15 residents during that time period for a total of 202. Both had a slight increase in Hispanic and Latino population from nearly nonexistent to .5 percent of the total population in Teutopolis and 3.5 percent in Shumway.

    Populations in both Stewardson and Sigel dropped by 13, leaving Stewardson’s 2010 count at 734 and Sigel’s at 373. Sigel, however, had a decrease of its Hispanic or Latino population, dropping in half, while Stewardson’s gained some residents. Both account for less than 1 percent of the population.

    Two villages that contradicted the downward trend and found themselves ahead are Watson and Dieterich.

    Watson gained 25 residents for a 2010 Census count of 754 while Dieterich gained 26 residents for a count of 617. Watson’s growth was only slightly offset by a .3 percent decline in its Hispanic or Latino population. Dieterich, however, had an increase of .7 percent, making up 1 percent of the population.

    Cathy Thoele can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 126 or cathy.thoele@effinghamdailynews.com.

   

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