New census data shows the heavily Democratic state capital, Columbus, grew significantly over the past decade, even as Ohio’s traditionally Republican rural and Appalachian regions lost residents.
The population changes impact the upcoming process of redrawing legislative districts. Ohio’s population grew by a sluggish 2.3% overall, compared with national growth of 7.4%.
That lag cost the state one of its 16 congressional districts. Franklin County, which includes Columbus, gained more than 160,000 residents between 2010 and 2020.
But 33 of Ohio’s 88 counties lost population. Cleveland lost more than 24,000 residents. Toledo, Akron, Youngstown, Canton and Dayton all lost population as well.
