Population Dynamics of the Northern Great Plains Region

Keywords: Population, migration, regional geography, American Community Survey
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 33

Abstract

This presentation describes the Northern Great Plains and explores trends occurring within the region. For the purpose of this presentation, the region is comprised of 106 counties extending across parts of Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. We use data from the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program to discuss population growth and demographic characteristics, to highlight the fastest growing counties, and to map migration for the region. American Community Survey data are used to visualize industry and occupation concentrations throughout the region, in comparison with the United States as a whole.

Within the Northern Great Plains, most of the counties in the region have stable population counts or are in slow decline. However, some counties in the region are growing slowly but steadily due to the presence of state capitals or regionally important cities. A small subset of counties have experienced major changes in population over the last decade due to industrial activity.