Thursday, June 24, 2010

Utica Grew . . .

Although last week the OD reported a Census update: Rare population increase for Oneida County, it left us in the dark about the City of Utica's population estimate for 2009. Readers would assume that city estimates were not issued, however papers all around the state have been reporting their city estimates.

The estimates are here: http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2009-4.html 

Utica grew . . . by 70 people . . . from 57,970 in 2008 to 58,040 in 2009.

It could be a blip . . . or the start of a turn around.

Regardless, Utica fared better than Syracuse (down 69 to 138,560), Rochester (down 54 to 207,294), Binghamton (down 106 to 44,401), Niagara Falls (down 21 to 51,295) and Buffalo (down 980 to 270,240).

You gotta wonder why the OD never reported this.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

How many refugees make up that number?

Strikeslip said...

I do not know. It probably is a significant number. There are ups and downs to that, of course.

There are social costs for new arrivals which we pay for. However, as they become established, they become contributors to the system. You can see this in the neighborhoods where they have settled. There are home purchases and new businesses. There is a resurgence. Some neighborhoods are starting to come back, suggesting that income from taxes will be available to maintain the infrastructure that was created for a much larger city.

That tells me that in the long run, the refugees will be good for Utica.

Strikeslip said...

PS Schenectady beat Utica and grew 273 people to 61,469. It has recruited many new residents from Guyana.

buzzer said...

So... yeah. Does this also include College dorm residents? Or prisoners that are moved to one of our billions of facilities?

Strikeslip said...

There aren't prisoners within the city of Utica, so not them. Dorm residents? I don't think so but I could be wrong on that. Nursing home residents -- probably -- but I expect them to dominate in New Hartford over Utica.

Anonymous said...

The "increase" in population almost exactly matches the number of residents gained by the annexation of Acacia Village.

buzzer said...

Ah good point... I thought there was at least one psych ward or prison in the city limits... but I guess it closed down to move to the suburbs? :)

Anyway, I can't imagine nursing home residents... I don't know of any elderly people that said, "I was so impressed with the homes up here, that I decided to move here from (insert other regions here... Rochester, Austin, Colorado, etc)!

Anonymous said...

If Anonymous is correct, one can appreciate the dark humor in labeling the addition of near goners as," the start of a turn around."

onjeesun said...

Full time college students who live in dorms (or apartments or whatever) are counted in the census. I went through this with my daughter. If they stay there more than 50% of the year, then that is considered their place of residence.

Anonymous said...

This must be a net increase,how many left to offset the refugie influx. Matt Apartments and Adrian Terrace look like a refugie haven so you have to wonder about tax increase.

Anonymous said...

How many of the refugees immediately went down to the county building to apply for welfare? Considering the job situation around here, how else are they going to support themselves?

Strikeslip said...

Some have started businesses, so that helps to improve the region. But you are right about the job situation . . . It IS a concern . . . for ALL of us.

Anonymous said...

Our soccer talent is growing leaps and bounds. Soon, we can reopen the Soccer Hall of Fame in Utica. Earl Reed ans Barbara Klien can manage it.

Strikeslip said...

HAHAHA!! I know you are joking . . . But there seems to be a market niche there in soccer that could be developed. Some professional teams exist . . .there might even be one locally . . . but not right in Utica, which is where it should be.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter where the teams or tournements are based. Think regionally. Soccer may bond us in ways water did not. Who knows kicking that ball around may open avenues of regional cooperation never before dreamed.We may even have a regional consolidated greater Utica soccer federation. The opportunities seem endless, if we only think big. Our new loga might be The Way to Kick Region. Or will someone be cute and negative and say, the Kick a Way Region?