Dyersburg in northwest Tennessee, has been encountering a dip in its population for years; with the humble city facing downward drift, there was no sign that it would stop until recently.
In 2018 the Frazier Industrial Company opened a new manufacturing plant in Dyersburg, which generated 120 new jobs. It also brought more than $17 million in investments, which may help give the city’s economy the boost it desperately needs.
Douglas, Arizona
Douglas lies in the north-west Sulpher Springs Valley, with open, grassy lands, which made it the perfect area for many of the region's largest cattle ranchers. But in 2010, it had a population of 17,378, and in 2018, the figures had shrunk to 15,978.
As with all places, people just prefer bigger towns for their opportunities and better job prospects. Phoenix experienced a population influx of 14.8% during that same period, so it seems people in Arizona are searching for a taste of city living.
El Paso, Texas
El Paso is a mid-size American city. Self-sufficient and predictably large, the city has a modern downtown, with a commercial district. Its extreme west location can feel isolating, meaning large industries have never succeeded in taking root.
El Paso is seeing many of its residents leave, but more people arrive than depart, giving the city a population slight increase of 5.2%.
Sterling, Colorado
Despite many cities across Colorado increasing their population, not every prominent city in the state did. Established along the South Platte River in 1881, Sterling quickly developed into a business hub on Colorado's eastern plains.
Although it has been through its share of booms and busts, Sterling's residents are now looking for somewhere else to settle down. Sterling worries that it will continue to lose more people following a 7.9% population drop in recent years.
Portsmouth, Virginia
Virginia has been trying its best to rally people to relocate into the state. While attempting to bring people in, Virginia hasn't deterred people from heading out of state to explore greener pastures elsewhere. Portsmouth was always one of the biggest cities in Virginia. It's a coastal treasure with a collection of antique homes spanning three centuries, with an assortment of quirky shops and eclectic, locally-owned restaurants.
But since the 1960s, there has been a continued drop in its population. In 1960, Portsmouth's community was 114,773, but since then, the figure has dipped below 100,000. The 2018 census counted 94,632 people living in Portsmouth, Virginia, giving the city a 17% decrease in residents since the 1960s.