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Numbers always tell an interesting story. When it comes to Wheeling's population, a topic we plan to expand upon in this space in the coming months, the numbers paint a picture local leaders need to better understand if they do, indeed, want the city to grow and thrive in the future.
Consider: Wheeling's population as of July 1, 2024, according to estimates released last month by the U.S. Census Bureau, is 26,060. That's the lowest level for the city's population since -- think about this -- prior to the 1880 census, when Wheeling registered 30,737 residents, up from the 19,280 citizens counted in the 1870 census.
The city's population continued to grow through the 1930 census, when 61,659 residents lived in Wheeling. The population trajectory ever since has been sliding downward as automation, industry closings, families having fewer children and many other factors led us to today -- a city that, in less than a century, has lost more than half its population.
In 1930, Wheeling, at its peak, was the second-largest city in West Virginia, trailing only Huntington. It was the 144th largest city in America at that time. Morgantown -- now larger than Wheeling -- had a quarter of our city's population in 1930. Parkersburg then was half the size of Wheeling in terms of people.
Today, of the 1,935 U.S. cities with at least 20,000 residents, Wheeling ranks No. 1,537 in terms of population, according to the Census Bureau. And unless something changes, that ranking will continue to fall.
Other cities have figured something out.
– Farmington, Utah, a city of 9,028 residents in 1990, now stands at 26,163 residents in 2024.
– Auburn Hills, Michigan had 17,076 residents in 1990; today, it sits 13 people behind Wheeling at 26,047.
– Fairfax, Virginia in 1990 had a population of 19,622. Today, it sits at an estimated 26,340.
These cities may or may not be the best comparisons to our region, but the point is this: Wheeling can't continue to sit back without a plan and hope for the best. It's time to convene interested folks and begin real discussions on the future of this city. Doing anything less and simply hoping for something better will yield results comparable to what the area has experienced for nearly a century -- fewer people shouldering more of the burden.
Contrary to what some would have you believe, this is a real problem --in fact, it may be the problem this generation and the next are best-suited to solve. It's time for real ideas and real economic policies to propel our city forward. It's time now to capitalize on the investment coming to Center Wheeling with the WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital Regional Cancer Center. It's time to put aside thoughts of the Wheeling that used to be and instead focus on the Wheeling we want for the future.
This can't happen overnight. Discussions need to start now --and they need to include a dynamic group interested in seeing this community thrive. Now would be the time to see just what Ohio County's new "growth and retention manager," Stephanie Hockenberry, has learned during her first 18 months on the job.
Let's get started, now, and build a Wheeling in which our children and grandchildren can have a future. Let's pick a path and move forward. As it stands today, the city -- in fact, the region -- has no clear direction in which way it should move. That needs to be rectified -- and fast.