WHO DOESN'T LIKE CONCENTRATED PATHOLOGIES?

Census says core cities shrink; local officials dispute it (David Peterson, 07/10/2003, Minneapolis Star Tribune)

State and local officials Wednesday discounted forthcoming population estimates that the federal government contends show Minneapolis and St. Paul losing residents at about the same rate as Rust Belt disaster zones such as Detroit and Cleveland.

According to U.S. Census figures to be released today, Minneapolis lost nearly 4,000 residents between 2001 and 2002. That may not sound like much in a city of 380,000 people. But in an era of central-city revival, a 1 percent drop gives Minneapolis the 10th-worst performance out of 242 U.S. cities of more than 100,000 people.

St. Paul wasn't much better, with an estimated loss of 2,300 people, 0.8 percent, tying it in percentage terms with Gary, Ind., as well as Pittsburgh.

But local experts pooh-poohed the federal estimates.

"There's a growing gap between what they are saying and what we believe is going on," said Tom Gillaspy, the state demographer.

And Minneapolis Planning Director Chuck Ballentine said he finds it "hard to believe" the figures show his city shrinking.

The age of the city is over. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 11, 2003 8:15 PM