Special Report

The 19 Fastest Shrinking Big Cities in America

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: December 2, 2023 10:36 am

There are many large cities that are suffering from urban decline. Several factors can bring about this fast-shrinking population. Significant contributions and changes to environmental, social, and economic issues can lead to high unemployment rates, a decline in housing, and higher poverty numbers. Although there are currently signs of recovery post-pandemic, many cities don’t have the same numbers they once had.

Several American cities over the past half-decade or so have undergone extreme population growth, while a number of prominent American urban areas recorded a major exodus of residents. 2022 saw the U.S. population experience a historically slow growth, increasing just 0.4% compared to the previous year. Although many of these declines occurred in Rust Belt metropolitan areas, there are quite a few exceptions. 

In order to identify the most rapidly shrinking large United States cities, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey one-year estimates. All 19 metropolitan statistical areas with at least a 5% population drop from 2016 to 2021 were listed. We added seasonally-adjusted December employment figures – used to calculate employment growth from 2016 to 2021 – from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

A substantial share of the nation’s population resides within three states: California, Texas, and Florida, with the latter two states contributing significantly to population growth. This illustrates that the enduring shifts in U.S. geographical patterns remain unchanged. However, our findings reveal that even within the most populous states, specific metro areas experienced a decline in residents. (Also see, the 15 countries Americans are moving to the most.)

The metropolitan areas on this list range from the least-populous Danville, Illinois, with 73,000 residents, to the more populated Corpus Christi, Texas, with 423,000 residents. While not on this list, some smaller population centers are also shrinking. These are America’s disappearing small towns.

Here are the fastest shrinking big cities in America.

19. Cumberland, MD-WV

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -5.0% (-4,955)
• 2021 population: 94,586 — #364 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 99,541 — #354 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -1.6% — #100 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 5.0% — #298 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 5.9% — #316 lowest out of 381

18. Fairbanks, AK

Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -5.0% (-5,012)
• 2021 population: 95,593 — #363 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 100,605 — #351 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -2.2% — #86 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 4.7% — #275 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 6.0% — #322 lowest out of 381

17. St. Joseph, MO-KS

Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -5.7% (-7,254)
• 2021 population: 120,274 — #326 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 127,528 — #306 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -3.7% — #55 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 2.7% — #65 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 3.9% — #84 lowest out of 381

16. Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH

Weirton-Steubenville Bridge pic 1 (CC0 1.0) by Jimkolmus

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -5.8% (-7,063)
• 2021 population: 113,798 — #336 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 120,861 — #321 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: +0.1% — #230 largest increase out of 231
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 5.3% — #313 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 7.2% — #369 lowest out of 381

15. Goldsboro, NC

Elm Street... (Public Domain) by Warren LeMay from Cullowhee, NC, United States

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -5.9% (-7,315)
• 2021 population: 116,835 — #331 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 124,150 — #313 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -2.4% — #79 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 4.0% — #210 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 5.7% — #300 lowest out of 381

14. Beckley, WV

Source: hkim39 / iStock via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -6.0% (-7,226)
• 2021 population: 113,698 — #337 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 120,924 — #320 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: +6.5% — #84 largest increase out of 231
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 3.9% — #197 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 6.3% — #339 lowest out of 381

13. Danville, IL

20200608 43 Theater, Danville,... (CC BY 2.0) by David Wilson

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -6.4% (-5,016)
• 2021 population: 73,095 — #377 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 78,111 — #377 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -5.0% — #37 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 5.1% — #305 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 7.0% — #367 lowest out of 381

12. Corpus Christi, TX

Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -6.6% (-30,012)
• 2021 population: 422,778 — #130 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 452,790 — #114 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -2.4% — #77 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 6.3% — #354 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 6.3% — #339 lowest out of 381

11. Champaign-Urbana, IL

Source: eyfoto / iStock via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -7.2% (-17,176)
• 2021 population: 222,696 — #204 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 239,872 — #189 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: +2.1% — #173 largest increase out of 231
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 3.7% — #162 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 4.9% — #210 lowest out of 381

10. Pine Bluff, AR

Fertilizer - Pine Bluff, Arkan... (CC BY 2.0) by Paul Sableman

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -7.8% (-7,324)
• 2021 population: 86,747 — #367 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 94,071 — #363 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -2.0% — #87 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 4.8% — #282 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 5.1% — #233 lowest out of 381

9. Chico, CA

Source: jmoor17 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -8.2% (-18,555)
• 2021 population: 208,309 — #212 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 226,864 — #196 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -8.5% — #8 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 5.5% — #331 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 6.4% — #346 lowest out of 381

8. Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA

Source: BigFishDesign / Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -8.2% (-15,007)
• 2021 population: 168,404 — #254 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 183,411 — #226 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: +2.3% — #163 largest increase out of 231
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 2.9% — #79 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 4.6% — #172 lowest out of 381

7. Bloomington, IL

Source: benkrut / iStock via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -8.8% (-16,437)
• 2021 population: 170,889 — #251 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 187,326 — #224 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -8.9% — #5 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 3.8% — #181 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 4.8% — #199 lowest out of 381

6. Panama City, FL

Source: helovi / E+ via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -10.8% (-21,725)
• 2021 population: 179,168 — #240 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 200,893 — #217 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: +0.7% — #208 largest increase out of 231
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 3.5% — #141 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 4.6% — #172 lowest out of 381

5. Grand Island, NE

19950723 15 BN Grand Island, N... (CC BY 2.0) by David Wilson

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -11.0% (-9,409)
• 2021 population: 76,175 — #376 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 85,584 — #368 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: +1.6% — #183 largest increase out of 231
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 1.8% — #5 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 3.2% — #28 lowest out of 381

4. Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

Source: dustin77a / iStock via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -11.0% (-18,547)
• 2021 population: 149,400 — #282 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 167,947 — #247 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -0.2% — #146 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 2.9% — #79 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 3.5% — #54 lowest out of 381

3. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -11.9% (-52,612)
• 2021 population: 389,155 — #138 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 441,767 — #120 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -1.6% — #98 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 4.6% — #270 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 6.2% — #331 lowest out of 381

2. Fort Smith, AR-OK

Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -11.9% (-33,566)
• 2021 population: 247,661 — #191 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 281,227 — #169 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: +0.4% — #216 largest increase out of 231
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 2.7% — #65 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 4.2% — #115 lowest out of 381

1. Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

• 2016-2021 pop. growth: -22.5% (-75,769)
• 2021 population: 261,108 — #187 highest out of 381
• 2016 population: 336,877 — #151 highest out of 381
• 2016-2021 employment growth: -3.3% — #61 largest decrease out of 150
• Dec 2021 unemployment rate: 5.0% — #298 lowest out of 381
• Dec 2016 unemployment rate: 4.5% — #156 lowest out of 381