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Estimates over the past decade show about 400,000 fewer people
in Illinois from eight consecutive years of decline.
In the Decennial Census, Illinois lost around 18,000 people. The
state lost a seat in the upcoming U.S. Congress because of the
population decline. Months later, another survey suggested the
Census undercounted Illinois by around 2 percent. This past
summer, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said the state is growing.
“I think we’ve gained population,” Durbin said. “The [Chicago]
Tribune is going to disagree with me. They’ve got their own
editorial policy. But the numbers speak for themselves.”
Durbin said it’s important Illinois show growth.
“It means federal dollars coming back home,” Durbin told The
Center Square. “The greater the population, the more federal
dollars returned to us. I want to help the taxpayers get their
money back.”
Despite Democrats’ appeal for the U.S. Census to revise the
state’s population upward, Illinois’ population still declined
1.1% to 12.67 million people.
Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs,
earlier this year said Illinois is not growing.
“Proof is that, I’ll just talk about my neighborhood, most
people that I know have either left for Indiana or have a for
sale sign in their front yard, specifically because of the tax
consequences that they believe is going to be thrust upon them
in the near future,” Durkin told The Center Square in August.
“We are shrinking.”
The latest annual population estimate from the U.S. Census is
expected Thursday.
The Small Area Income and Poverty estimates report released by
the U.S. Census earlier this month showed in 2020, poverty edged
upward from 11 percent to 12.1 percent.
Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and
other issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of
award-winning broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning
Newsfeed out of Springfield.
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