It’s to no one’s surprise that Census numbers show another decline in the population counts in Iroquois and Ford County. In fact, rural numbers dropped all over the country.

But the declining population locally has to be of concern for officials who have to continue providing services for citizens --- at some kind of an affordable price. Tax dollars only go so far. And as the number of people paying into the tax structure continues to decline, the hope is that taxes don’t climb even more to make up the lost revenue –- related to the loss in those paying.

Iroquois County’s loss in population equates to nearly 18% over the last 40 years. The 1980 Census listed Iroquois County at just under 33,000 (32,979). Today, that population count is 27, 077. The Census count in the last 10 years (2010 to 2020) decreased 8.9%.

The City of Watseka’s count has dropped well below the 5,255 ten years ago …. to 4,679 people, according to the 2020 Census count.

In Ford County --- the population count is down to 13, 534. That’s 547 less people than in 2010, when the Census showed 14, 081 citizens in Ford County.

Some have jokingly commented that Illinois has served the U-Haul business operation as the leader among states where are fleeing from.

Downstate Illinois population over the last decade shows the state having lost 18, 124 residents overall.

The Chicago metro region (a 6-county spread) gained 129, 200 citizens, including 50, 790 more people in the city of Chicago. Illinois’ other 96 counties show a population loss of 147, 340.

94.1 WGFA