10 fastest-dying cities in U.S.

by Stephanie Sobotka | August 6, 2008 at 03:21 pm | 4174 views | 76 comments

Forbes has listed the 10 fastest-dying cities in America. The cities on the list all face fleeing populations, painful unemployment waves and slow growing economies.

The article says old manufacturing cities such as Buffalo are in rougher shape than ever and still looking for something to replace their factories and mills.

Buffalo is the only city in New York to make the list. Ohio leads the way with four -- Youngstown, Dayton, Canton and Cleveland -- followed by Michigan with two, Detroit and Flint.

Also making the list are Charleston, W.Va.; Springfield, Mass., and Scranton, Pa.

If you live in any of these cities - do you agree or disagree?

Cities that made the list:

Canton, Ohio

(Canton-Massillon, Ohio, metropolitan statistical area)

Migration (since 2000): -7,807

Total population change: +212

June 2008 Unemployment: 6.7% (2000 average: 4.2%)

Annualized gross domestic product (GDP) growth: 0.7%

Like many cities on our list, the Canton-Massillon area has been victim to the decline of the so-called Rust Belt. A once -booming iron and steel industry has been in terminal decline for years. But the decline of steel has not left the region without any jobs. Canton and nearby Akron are home to industrial parts manufacturer Timken, security firm Diebold, Goodyear Tires and First Energy.

Youngstown, Ohio

(Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Penn., metropolitan statistical area)

Migration (since 2000): -28,435

Total population change: -32,260

June 2008 Unemployment: 7.3% (2000 average: 5.8%)

Annualized GDP growth: 1.2%

It's been many years since the Republic Steel Company dominated the economy of Youngstown, Ohio, and nearby Warren and Boardman, Ohio. Through a chain of mergers, Republic Steel is now part of the steel giant ArcelorMittal. ArcelorMittal is headquartered in far-off Luxembourg. Since 2000, nearly 30,000 of the region's 600,000 people have followed suit and departed for different climes themselves.

Flint, Mich.

(Flint, Mich., metropolitan statistical area)

Migration (since 2000): -17,221

Total population change: -1,433

June 2008 Unemployment: 9.7% (2000 average: 6%)

Annualized GDP growth: 0.4%

Even Detroit has not suffered from the decline of America's automakers as much as Flint. General Motors was founded here, and as GM goes, so goes Flint. The region's Buick City, once employing tens of thousands, is now one of the nation's largest brownfields. Even as 17,000 people have left the region, employment has remained high

Scranton, Pa.

(Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pa., metropolitan statistical area)

Migration (since 2000): +2,431

Total population change: -11,197

June 2008 Unemployment: 6.2% (2000 average: 4.9%)

Annualized GDP growth: 1.3%

Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Penn. are no longer thriving coal towns, and the region has struggled to build a post-industrial economy. Some help has come from the unlikeliest of sources: NBC comedy The Office, set in Scranton, gave the city an excuse to start an annual "Office" convention. The first convention in 2007 drew thousands, prompting the Philly Daily News to declare a transition "from coal to cool."

Dayton, Ohio

(Dayton, Ohio, metropolitan statistical area)

Migration (since 2000): -33,499

Total population change: -12,616

June 2008 Unemployment: 6.9% (2000 average: 3.9%)

Annualized GDP growth: 1.2%

Dayton has suffered as manufacturing in the region has gradually tapered off. It has been particularly hard hit by the decline in automotive manufacturing. But the city is not all heavy industry. Cash register and ATM manufacturer NCR is based in Dayton, and one of the region's major employers, the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, is not going anywhere

Cleveland, Ohio

(Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Ohio, metropolitan statistical area)

Migration (since 2000): -115,411

Total population change: -51,539

June 2008 Unemployment: 7.7% (2000 average: 3.9%)

Annualized GDP growth: 1.7%

Only Pittsburgh and New Orleans have seen sharper population declines this decade, and New Orleans was because of a natural disaster. The presence of huge Cleveland-headquartered firms like banks National City and Key Bank, paint manufacturer Sherwin-Williams or manufacturing giant Parker Hannifin are not keeping people in the region.

Springfield, Mass.

(Springfield, Mass.-Conn., Metropolitan NECTA)

Migration (since 2000): -16,626

Total population change: +2,643

June 2008 Unemployment: 5.9 % (2000 average: 3.0%)

Annualized GDP growth: 1%

The western Massachusetts home to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance and Smith & Wesson has suffered for a long time as the Northeast becomes less and less a destination for manufacturing. To stave off the decline, Springfield has partnered with Hartford, Conn.--25 miles to the south--and rebranded itself New England's "Knowledge Corridor," because of the presence of so many universities--UConn, Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke and Wesleyan to name a few.

Buffalo, N.Y.

(Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y., metropolitan statistical area)

Migration (since 2000): -51,302

Total population change: -41,926

June 2008 Unemployment: 5.7% (2000 average: 4.3%)

Annualized GDP growth: 1.9%

Buffalo has long been synonymous with city-in-decline. In the early 1900s, Buffalo was one of America's 10 largest cities, a burgeoning industrial center. It's been on decline ever since, despite a location that takes advantage of trade with Canada. Buffalo is home to M&T Bank and the Delaware North Companies--one of the major operators of stores in airports.

Charleston, W.Va.

(Charleston, W.Va., metropolitan statistical area)

Migration (since 2000): -5,776

Total population change: -5,682

June 2008 Unemployment: 4.8% (2000 average: 5.2%)

Annualized GDP growth: 1%

Of all the cities on our list, only Charleston currently has employment above the national average. Though its economy has grown slowly and the population of the area is older and shrinking, the West Virginia capital is a transportation hub for the region and is home to the state's banking and health care industries, as well as a cultural center.

Detroit, Mich.

(Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich., metropolitan statistical area)

Migration (since 2000): -174,592

Total population change: +15,033

June 2008 unemployment: 9.7% (2000 average: 3.7%)

Annualized GDP growth: 0.5%

High-unemployment and the continued struggles of General Motors and Ford have left Detroit something of a scrap heap, with stalled growth and a fleeing populace. Is there hope for a brighter future for Detroit? Since 2000, the city has witnessed something of a baby boom, with 430,000 babies born in a period that only 280,000 died. Maybe someday they'll all grow up to drive Chevy Volts?

Flag this story

Upload

Make your good story a great story. Click here to add your photos & video to this story.

Crowd Power

Scan the web to add photos and videos to this story or add them from the NowPublic Archive.

mchawk

at 18:55 on August 6th, 2008

good stuff:

Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It's good stuff.

A sobering look at a faltering economy.

Flint's on the list - can we expect another Michael Moore doco'?

K. Anderheggen

at 20:01 on August 6th, 2008

K. Anderheggen has contributed a photo to this story.

black and white all over

at 21:37 on August 6th, 2008

I've been going to Springfield, Mass., every year for the last 10 years. The stores and restaurants have steadily disappeared in the downtown area. It is very sad to see.

black and white all over has contributed a photo to this story.

windyy

at 22:06 on August 6th, 2008

I think Buffalo is a nice town. If the news media would
get off the kick of telling nothing but blood and guts
stories maybe out country would lower the crime rate.
The media always projects what it wants.If they tell us
enough times we are in a recession we will be. Where
are all the shyster lawyers when you need one to do a
class action law suit against the biased media that is
ruining our country by convincing all the mindless fools
to think like they want them to.

windyy has contributed a photo to this story.

tangywolf

at 09:27 on August 8th, 2008

This is very much true. If the media says repeatedly that we are in a recession, people begin to get scared and are far more cautious with their investments and spending, thus creating a recession.

Fat Bastard_

at 22:29 on August 6th, 2008

good stuff:

Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Fat Bastard_

at 22:37 on August 6th, 2008

The truth is Dayton is dying slowly but surely, and replacing high paying manufacturing jobs with low wage jobs does not help. The leadership here is just like everywhere else, they want to form a committe to do a study, then after that, form a task forse to investigete the committes findings. Meanwhile people are losing jobs and the manufacturing jobs affect about every 8 or 9 other jobs in the community.

duo

at 22:57 on August 6th, 2008

good stuff:

Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It's good stuff.

east hastings.

at 23:02 on August 6th, 2008

As dangerous as Dayton is and how bleak my future will look if I still live here, I must say I love it. I love its decay and how desolate the city is.

east hastings. has contributed a photo to this story.

Steve.r

at 23:18 on August 6th, 2008

I went through Dayton while on a road trip to California. My brother and I stopped in Dayton to visit an old friend and stay at his place for the night. I'd have to say it's not that bad of a place. Dave Chappele lives there so it can't be that bad. I'd like to stop by again to really get a good look at the place

Steve.r has contributed a photo to this story.

politisite

at 23:25 on August 6th, 2008

good stuff:

Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It's good stuff. Steel, Automotive, and Coal Mining

wtrtwnguy

at 23:39 on August 6th, 2008

Buffalo on the list of 10 fastest dying cities? That's sad. I was hoping the city would overcome its slow demise. The city government is trying. Downtown looked neat. The streetcars are comfortable and free (downtown only), and the old Erie Canal Harbor is being renovated. All that is missing is people once again roaming the streets.

wtrtwnguy has contributed a photo to this story.

Kelley C (not verified)

at 02:08 on August 14th, 2008

I have to say - I just was in Buffalo and what a wonderful place - yes it has really downsized BUT I was pleasantly surprised by the city and the people - being a southern girl. I find that they have a hard to attract people to come to cities that are in a downsizing mode - unless you are like me and fairly mobile.

I'm actually looking at some jobs in the rust belt area - they are desperate for people to come and I really don't have anything to stop me from being there.

However, where I live now - we have a negative unemployment rate so I could stay here - the questions are always

why move there?

and why stay there?

Employers have to have an incentive - or they have to think hard about staying in the area.

trypd

at 00:19 on August 7th, 2008

Reflection of construction and clouds in the Wright Health Building, Dayton, OH. To me this represents the duality of Dayton. On one hand there are several urban renewal projects in the works, yet on the other hand businesses and jobs are fleeing the city, causing a lot of the problems that put Dayton, OH on the Forbes top 10 fastest-dying cities list for 2008.

trypd has contributed a photo to this story.

rtfagan

at 00:41 on August 7th, 2008

Took this picture while walking from a restaurant back to the Adams Mark Hotel during a business trip. April 2007

rtfagan has contributed a photo to this story.

World_Groove

at 00:46 on August 7th, 2008

NOT SCRANTON !! Oh...my ...does this mean The Office will "really" be downsizing ?

Gh0s7

at 02:21 on August 7th, 2008

good stuff:

Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It's good stuff.

radlmax

at 03:22 on August 7th, 2008

my dayton bicycle, made in ohio 1898... almost dying too, but im reanimating it, soon it will be rideable again. max.

radlmax has contributed a photo to this story.

Col And Bev

at 04:04 on August 7th, 2008

Buffalo N.Y. Taken 6 years ago on holiday.

Col And Bev has contributed a photo to this story.

Shawn Farrell

at 04:23 on August 7th, 2008

The gloomy winter sky over the city of Buffalo reflects its uncertain future.

Shawn Farrell has contributed a photo to this story.

SOLARLIFE

at 04:41 on August 7th, 2008

good stuff:

Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It's good stuff. Detroit "De-industrialistion" time document. Thanks

rumana husain

at 05:25 on August 7th, 2008

is there a good reason why 4 out of this list of 10 are cities in Ohio?

WJBodkin

at 05:58 on August 7th, 2008

This is a picture of Buffalo City Hall with the McKinley Monument in the front. The Monument is apart of Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo New York

WJBodkin has contributed a photo to this story.

WJBodkin

at 06:16 on August 7th, 2008

I dont really care for Buffalo being on this list. Mayor of the city even said we have done so much in the last 5 years than the last 40. Saying Buffalo is on a decline now is an insult to the people who live there. We've known about this since early 1900s. Little late I think. And further more there is over a billion dollar in investments in downtown Buffalo now. Including 2 new condo towers on the waterfront, and the remolding of Buffalo's oldest buildings into the new ones. The art scene is amazing. The food (wings) is top notch. We have the greatest hockey fans. Oh by the way Labatt Blue's USA headquarters and New Era Cap is in downtown Buffalo. Forgot to mention that didn't they? And besides Buffalo isn't just about the city. I live in the suburbs and alot of people consider that still Buffalo. Those places...are beautiful and nice. Quality of life...thats all I am a saying.

Rob Scumaci

at 09:17 on August 7th, 2008

WJBodkin is correct. The Forbes article completely ignores the progress over the last five years and the burgeoning medical corridor and the waterfront. They can't rehab the older buildings downtown, or build new ones, fast enough to keep up with demand now. The time to invest is now. Buffalo will be a different city in 5 more years. The art scene/theatre is superb here as well.

Rebel Rog

at 06:49 on August 7th, 2008

This church is located in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Cleveland, Ohio(around 79th/Cedar).

Rebel Rog has contributed a photo to this story.

dash4me

at 06:56 on August 7th, 2008

Dying? That's an exageration. These are tuff times while energy costs and everything else is rising... It's just not Cleveland! Seems the county commissioners are doing something about it by approving new projects, but that wasn't mentioned in the article. Perhaps the authors should visit downtown and see the Rock Hall of Fame, Science Center, Progressive Field (Indians), Gund Arena (Cavaliers), Browns Stadium, University Circle, Metroparks, Edgewater... BTW, go Lebron James, bring home Olympic Gold!

dash4me has contributed a photo to this story.

beOHbe (not verified)

at 08:43 on August 7th, 2008

As a 10+ year resident of Canton, Ohio, it's hard to argue that on many levels this city is dying. My first 6 or 7 years here I harbored some real negative feelings about the place. But there has been a real push in the past few years to revitalize and reinvent the city for a younger demographic. The arts community is growing by leaps and bounds and developers, especially Steve Coon, are investing significant amounts of money into cleaning up and repurposing older buildings downtown. It's hoped that all of this physical and cultural development will attract larger companies and young professionals to the area. The city may be dying, but it's not going without a fight and shouldn't be counted out just yet.

brennarella

at 08:58 on August 7th, 2008

Buffalo, NY City Hall, view from the highway

brennarella has contributed a photo to this story.

Neiger

at 08:59 on August 7th, 2008

Like most of the rest of the list Cleveland just has not been able to bounce back from the nations decline in manufacturing. I live between Cleveland and Canton both are great cities and offer much for the public. Well... accept for employment......

Still no other place I would rather live!

Neiger has contributed a photo to this story.