Maine is in the northeastern part of the United States and is famous for its beautiful coastline, mountains, and large forests. However, it’s dealing with some issues like an aging population, not many new babies being born, and a lot of people moving away.
Because of these things, some places in Maine are losing people, especially in the northern and rural areas. Here, we’ll look at the five counties in Maine where the population is dropping the fastest.
Piscataquis County
This area in Maine has the fewest people spread out over each square kilometer compared to other counties. Since 2010, the number of residents has decreased by 4.27%, mainly because many people are getting older, there aren’t many new births, and a lot of people are moving away.
Franklin County
This area has about 29,897 people, making it the second smallest county in Maine. The population has gone down by 2.68% since 2010, mostly because there aren’t many births, and a lot of people are moving away.
Read More:Â Exploring the 5 Counties in North Carolina With the Most Rapid Population Decline
Washington County
This area in Maine has 31,490 people, and it’s the third least populated county. Since 2010, its population has decreased by 4.08% mainly because the residents are getting older, and there are fewer births.
Read More:Â Exploring the 5 Counties in Virginia With the Most Rapid Population Decline
Knox County
This area has about 18,798 people, and it’s the fourth smallest county in Maine. The population has gone down by 0.35% since 2010 because not many babies are born here, and a lot of people have moved away.
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Hancock County
This area has about 23,057 people, and it’s the fifth smallest county in Maine. The population has decreased by 0.53% since 2010, mostly because the people are getting older, and there are not many births.
Read More:Â Exploring the 5 Counties in Idaho With the Most Rapid Population Decline
How Does Maine’s Population Compare to Other States in the US?
With 1.4 million residents as of 2022, Maine is the ninth least populated state in the union of 50 states. This indicates that Maine is home to roughly 332 million people, or 0.04% of the whole US population.
At just 43.1 persons per square mile, Maine has one of the lowest population densities in the nation. Maine now ranks 38th in the United States for population density, behind states like Vermont, Alaska, and Wyoming.
Maine’s population has grown by just 0.03% since 2010, which is a relatively sluggish rate. Maine is now the 48th fastest growing state in the union, trailing just Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. Maine’s low birth rate, high out-migration, and aging population are its biggest problems. Maine has a high poverty rate and low economic output due to these causes.
Portland is the most populous city in Maine, home to more than 67,000 inhabitants as of 2017. At roughly 32 square miles, Portland is the largest city in Maine in terms of area as well.
Maine’s cultural hub and largest port city is Portland. It offers a plethora of attractions, including parks, restaurants, festivals, and museums.
With just 4,240 residents as of 2020, Piscataquis County is the least populous county in Maine. The population density of Piscataquis County is an extremely low one person per square mile. The majority of Piscataquis County is rural and has a low population. There are lakes, rivers, forests, and mountains among its natural characteristics.
Read More:Â This City Has Been Named the Poorest City in Wisconsin
Final Words
In summary, we’ve looked at the five Maine counties experiencing the fastest population decrease: Piscataquis, Franklin, Washington, Knox, and Hancock. These areas face common issues like an older population, low birth rates, and many people moving away.
These problems lead to economic challenges, social isolation, and limited access to healthcare and education. Despite this, the counties have unique strengths like natural beauty, cultural heritage, and strong communities.
We recommend that these counties focus on their strengths. They could boost tourism, support local businesses, improve internet access, and attract young and diverse residents. By doing these things, these counties can turn around their population decline and enhance their overall quality of life.
References:
maineanencyclopedia.com, worldpopulationreview.com, uscanadainfo.com, maine.gov
