How much longer can the cities in Ohio and the state itself sustain growth? I have been looking at Census estimates and figures and have been watching our cities decline in population for a while now, while Columbus continues to grow. I am tired of hearing how businesses are moving out and closing. Ohio has the 4th highest number of Fortune 1000 companies when compared to the other states (Ohio is at a tie with PA). People are moving south because of the "weather" and for "health" reasons. The only conclusion I can come to for Columbus growing is that it is the state capital, other than that there is not much that brings people to Columbus.

 

It is really sad to hear about all of these things happening to Ohio, but it is not just Ohio. The Midwest in general is suffering, with Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Detroit, and other cities losing people. Bob Taft isn't helping the situation any either, I don't think he has done anything for Ohio since he has been in office (and I have been counting down the days until Election Day).

 

Does anyone see any hope for this great state? Columbus will probably surpass San Francisco in population soon and top over 800,000 in the city proper, but that is really about it. Columbus has a strong policy on annexation which is a major reason because of its growth, since city leaders are trying to keep suburbanization low. It may be a little while before Ohio really starts to drop in population, as the Census estimates that Ohio will still be 7th most populous by 2025 (even though their predictions cannot be that accurate since it is so far in the future).

 

In my opinion, Ohio is about the greatest state in America. Columbus is such a clean city (about the cleanest that I have ever seen in my life), Cleveland and Cincinnati are major urban areas, Toledo and Akron are both well rounded cities, and Ohio has a nice mix of the south from the Appalachian region. I am just not sure how much longer Ohio can keep jobs in.

 

I haven't heard a lot about Blackwell's policies, but I hope Strickland and Blackwell have plans laid out; I cannot stand watching Taft sit in office and do nothing.

 

Hopefully our cities will rebound in the future and grow in population, because Ohio does have a lot to offer.

 

Illegal immigrants ARE counted on the U.S. census, Ohio and the Midwest are behind from the start. For Ohio to sustain its politcal strength its needs to push for laws that would prohibit the counting of illegal immigrants on the U.S. census. I recall this bill being pushed in the Ohio house but im not sure what happened to it. If it passes you would see the population figures of states like Texas, California, New York, Illinois Florida, etc. fall considerably, thereby bringing them more in line with us.

 

The downside of this of course is that it would technically lower our countries already low population growth in the eyes of the world (even though we really would still allow illegals to be part of the economy).

 

 

  "How much longer can the cities in Ohio and the state itself sustain growth?"

 

  Until 2018, if you believe the U.S. Census projections and are speaking of population. Then, it's all decline for the foreseeable future.

 

 

Sadly, I will probably have to relocate to an out of state area sometime in the future. Most of the growth is in the south and where jobs are heading, which means I will not be able to see the four seasons any longer.

 

Ohio cities have a bit of an advantage in planning when compared to other cities, such as Atlanta's urban mess, but that is where people locate to now.  :-(

There, cleaned it up for ohioresident.

The old economy jobs are headed to China not Atlanta. Jobs Moving south were a phenomenon in the last 3 decades of the last century this century China is where its at. There are many professionals unemployed in ATL right now because there are not enough jobs. I think at least the three C's can creative more knowledge based jobs they are trying, but its hard to  just switch from one type of economy to the other. The unemployment rates for Cle, Col, and Ciny are dropping quarterly even Cleveland is below the national average now at 4.5%. So it is starting to turn around, but we just have to keep the momentum going.

Right now the babyboomers are moving south and the southern states are all competing for them by investing in world class golf courses, condo developments, etc. But what happens when the babyboomers die out? The demand for real estate is going to go way down and those old people have no kids in their households to replenish the population. I really wish people understood the importance of illegal immigrants in America. This nation has and always will thrive from cheap exploited immigrant labor.

In addition, now that every region expect perhaps the expanse between Seattle and Minneapolis/Chicago, is caught up in terms of development of cities and infrastructure, I think it is up for grabs where the nex big boom will be. It will be wherever land is cheap and jobs are plenty. It has alot less to do with weather than people realize, think why NYC, Chicago, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Columbus are growing. Cold sometimes yes and growing too. Even Cleveland grew in the nineties, then stopped when the 2000 recession hit. People are so quick to give upon cities  an must realize economic situations and personal perceptions don't change over night.

I censored both of us.  You, of course, may write what you wrote before without troubles. 

There, cleaned it up for ohioresident.

I understand this site has a positive message and southern Ohio bias, but the falling fertility rate and lack of immigrants is why Ohio cities have a slim chance of growing in population again.

 

What on earth does a "southern Ohio bias" have anything to do with slim chance of growing population?  And if anything, we have JUST as many negative threads as positive threads.  Don't be mad that you were censored too.