Source: WHQR, 3/27/22

About 42% of the nation’s counties have declining populations — but not ones in the Cape Fear region. That’s according to U.S. Census Bureau data released this week. According to Carolina Demography, the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 county population estimates show North Carolina’s population grew by about 1% compared to 2020. The national rate of growth is 0.1%. Even though counties in the state have growing populations, demographers say North Carolina had a “natural decrease” for the first time, meaning more deaths than births were recorded; hence, the county population increases...

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