According to a Virginian informational group Virginians are fleeing the state’s large cities in massive numbers, while more rural areas are becoming more heavily populated.
Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) released data showing that migration per 1,000 people was highest in northern Virginia.
“The nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project elevates public understanding of politics and government by organizing and presenting information in ways that are easily accessible and free of partisan bias,” according to its website. “VPAP is fiercely nonpartisan. We do not lobby or take positions on issues. Our singular focus is to give Virginians information they need to make their own decisions.”
VPAP said that between 2020 and 2021, the city of Alexandria lost nearly 5,000 residents. According to the data, nearly 40 out of every 1,000 residents moved out of Alexandria during that time period.
Arlington, another city in the northern part of the state, lost about 5,500 residents. The city, which has a population of 232,965, is larger than Alexandria. Despite losing more residents, it lost fewer residents per 1,000. That number was just over 30.
Fairfax County in northern Virginia saw an average population decrease of 16.2 residents per 1,000. The city of Fairfax lost more than 11 residents per 1,000 residents.
Charlottesville also lost a significant amount of residents. More than 25 out of every 1,000 residents in that city moved away between 2020 and 2021.
On the contrary, suburbs – particularly outside of the state’s capital city of Richmond – are growing rapidly in population.
New Kent County, east of Richmond, saw the largest population growth of any place in Virginia. Nearly 44 out of every 1,000 residents in the county moved in between 2020 and 2021.
West of Richmond is the city of Louisa, in Louisa County, which gained about 37 new residents per 1,000.
Other counties that saw a population growth of more than 30 per 1,000 residents included Goochland County and Northlumberton County.
The group also provided data regarding net change, which includes deaths, births and migration.
The data for net change in population closely mirrored the data for migration.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Richmond, Virginia” by Ron Cogswell. CC BY 2.0.
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