Fewer people fleeing Cuyahoga County, US Census data estimates show

CLEVELAND - Fewer people are fleeing Ohio’s most populated county, with 2012 marking the slowest decline in more than two decades, census estimates are showing.

According to Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, estimates released Thursday showed the population loss of the county was .38 percent from July 2011 to July 2012, which is about half as much as the average decline of .73 percent over the past 15 years.

In accounting for all factors and gains, 30 percent fewer people moved out of Cuyahoga County in that one-year period.

“While a loss of any size is still unacceptable, we can clearly see that our regional economic position is being righted and the exodus from the housing crisis coming to an end,” said FitzGerald in a news release.  “As the Global Center for Health Innovations and the other major public and private investments made in this county the past few years come online, I believe we’re going to see this upswing continue even into population gains.”

FitzGerald cited international immigration as a factor slowing the decline, with a 5-percent gain that netted 2,920 new arrivals in that period. FitzGerald said this makes Cuyahoga County the second-largest area in the state with new immigrants. Franklin County – where Columbus is located – has a large number of foreign-exchange students due to Ohio State University.

What do you think about Cuyahoga County? Is it getting better, worse or staying the same? Chime in via the comment box below.