Census estimates for Gulf Coast

A 2018 Census Bureau population estimate across the country, released April 18, indicate that for New Orleans and area parishes have slowed or declined since a post-Katrina when NOLA’s population increased an average 7,000 people from 2010-16. The next census will be in 2020. Orleans Parish estimated numbers dipped about 1,000 from about 391,000. However, it’s more than 47,000 more compared to the 2010 census. More telling are the estimated numbers for area parishes. (Jefferson Parish: Down 2,700; St. Tammany: Up 2,300; Plaquemines: Up <300); Lafourche: Up 2000+; Terrebonne: Down <800) Michael Hecht, president/CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., acknowledged that Louisiana overall have seen job losses in the energy sector in past years; but, gains in the technology, health care, advanced manufacturing and software industries. (Source: NOLA.com 04/18/19) For the remainder of the Gulf Coast, the largest estimated population growth was in Baldwin County, Ala.: <36,000; Santa Rosa County, Fla. (home to NAS Whiting Field) at about 28,000; Okaloosa, Fla. (Eglin-Hurlburt) 27,000; Harrison County, Miss. (Seabees & Keesler) >19,000; and Escambia, Fla. (home to multiple Navy bases) at 18,000. Mississippi’s Golden Triangle: Clay County: Down 1,000+; Lowndes (Columbus AFB): Up <1,000; Oktibbeha: Up <2,000. Jackson County, Miss., was up 4,000 and Hancock was > 3,000. Mobile, Ala., County was up <1,000.