People are not "moving out of Pittsburgh" anymore than most U.S. cities (Philadelphia: landscaping, taxes)

[JoeP]

Pittsburgh has the lowest out-migration of any of the 25 largest metros.

Pittsburgh's population issues are complicated are where they are, as a results of previous decades, not current conditions.

[Awesomo.2000]

This is very true. I also heard this year that our average age is average. I don't have any sources it was on the news.

So that blows that "everybody is old, Pittsburgh has the highest elderly population" argument. The elderly generation is moving to Florida or passing away. It is leveling off. Soon it will start rising. (it will be a small population increase, but it is leveling off)

[subdivisions]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Pittsburgh has the lowest out-migration of any of the 25 largest metros.

Pittsburgh's population issues are complicated are where they are, as a results of previous decades, not current conditions.

Can you post a cite, please?

[guylocke]

I didn't know for a fact that it was the lowest out of the top 25 but I did know that it was VERY low. People are definitely NOT fleeing Pittsburgh.

Our population decline is solely based on death-rate (Pittsburgh has a lot of old people and yet sometime in the future will characteristically have many young people compared to the national average) and lack of immigration.

We aren't attracting hordes of Hispanics, legal or otherwise. Is that bad? Probably on some levels. Is that good? Probably on some levels. Our in-migration in certain other demographics like European and Asian isn't dramatically off national levels, either, as far as I know.

It is not the exclusive reason, of course, but a large bulk of many "boom" cities is due to Hispanic immigration.

[JoeP]

I can't find the article I was referencing, but here is a similar one:

Although it's true that about 6,000 more people move out than move in each year, our rate of net domestic out-migration in 2007 was actually lower than 16 of the top 40 regions, including Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego and Silicon Valley. What really hurts us is that we're the only major region in the country that has more deaths than births.

Underneath the net migration numbers is a significant amount of inflow and outflow. About 35,000 to 45,000 people move into the Pittsburgh metro area from outside Pennsylvania each year (either from elsewhere in the country or overseas), so in any given year, between 1.5 percent to 2 percent of our population is new to the region and the state. Although that's a large number, it's one of the smallest percentages among the top 40 regions

Post-Gazette: Regional Insights

[guylocke]

Here are some interesting things that I think about occasionally, I have no facts to back it up (but never looked for them, either) and I assure you that I can't say I'm right, these are just things I perceive from my limited knowledge about these cities and regions.

It seems to me that many of the fastest-growing boom cities (and regions) in America are either close in proximity to Mexico (California, Texas) or are in climates that Mexican's are accustomed to (Atlanta, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Florida) and where their "industries" (albeit stereotypically) are strong such as landscaping and/or harvesting.

Please believe me, this is in no means meant to single out a race or be discriminatory, I realize what I just wrote could be thorny to some. My point is that, by default, I think many of these places aren't necessarily doing things "right or wrong" per say, but are simply close to the Mexican border or, like I said, similar to Mexican temperatures and climate.

Should we try to model Pittsburgh after these cities that may be gaining massive amounts of Hispanic immigrants based on reason's that may or may not have much to do with "better politics, better infrastructure, better economy, better taxes," ect?

I would argue that we should look to cities that are growing and bucking many national recession trends WITHOUT the skewed demographics of Hispanic immigration. I would argue that we should look to the direction of Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, Columbus, Indianapolis, etc who are gaining slow-and-steady population and stability based on (perhaps) a fundamental strength in the region rather than the weather or proximity to the border.

I dunno. Food for thought, I'm not sure I even believe all of what I wrote! I do find it interesting, though.

[lifepgh2op]

Originally Posted by guylocke

Here are some interesting things that I think about occasionally, I have no facts to back it up (but never looked for them, either) and I assure you that I can't say I'm right, these are just things I perceive from my limited knowledge about these cities and regions.

It seems to me that many of the fastest-growing boom cities (and regions) in America are either close in proximity to Mexico (California, Texas) or are in climates that Mexican's are accustomed to (Atlanta, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Florida) and where their "industries" (albeit stereotypically) are strong such as landscaping and/or harvesting.

Please believe me, this is in no means meant to single out a race or be discriminatory, I realize what I just wrote could be thorny to some. My point is that, by default, I think many of these places aren't necessarily doing things "right or wrong" per say, but are simply close to the Mexican border or, like I said, similar to Mexican temperatures and climate.

Should we try to model Pittsburgh after these cities that may be gaining massive amounts of Hispanic immigrants based on reason's that may or may not have much to do with "better politics, better infrastructure, better economy, better taxes," ect?

I would argue that we should look to cities that are growing and bucking many national recession trends WITHOUT the skewed demographics of Hispanic immigration. I would argue that we should look to the direction of Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, Columbus, Indianapolis, etc who are gaining slow-and-steady population and stability based on (perhaps) a fundamental strength in the region rather than the weather or proximity to the border.

I dunno. Food for thought, I'm not sure I even believe all of what I wrote! I do find it interesting, though.

I agree with all of what you said.

I just have one question...I know a lot of people that are moving to Columbus (most in their 20's who either are from Ohio or went to Ohio State and are staying there) so partly I know Columbus is gaining population but aren't they also still annexing land from surrounding Franklin County into the city?

[Geeo]

I believe Columbus is still able to annex land in Franklin County into the city limits, and I believe it has something to do with water rights (you don't get tapped into the municipal system unless you're part of the city or something like that). So Columbus and Indianapolis are an anomaly in this part of the country in that they have more regional governments, since most older cities can't do that anymore. That's how Pittsburgh grew in square miles from the 19th and into the 20th century.

[JoeP]

I know Columbus is gaining population but aren't they also still annexing land from surrounding Franklin County into the city

I am not sure if they are still annexing land, but the county's population is growing (in population).

[wordzgirl]

Originally Posted by guylocke

I didn't know for a fact that it was the lowest out of the top 25 but I did know that it was VERY low. People are definitely NOT fleeing Pittsburgh.

Our population decline is solely based on death-rate (Pittsburgh has a lot of old people and yet sometime in the future will characteristically have many young people compared to the national average) and lack of immigration.

We aren't attracting hordes of Hispanics, legal or otherwise. Is that bad? Probably on some levels. Is that good? Probably on some levels. Our in-migration in certain other demographics like European and Asian isn't dramatically off national levels, either, as far as I know.

It is not the exclusive reason, of course, but a large bulk of many "boom" cities is due to Hispanic immigration.

Well, we definitely didn't die. We just moved South for the awesome weather and better job opportunities