Courtesy of Mish.
Illinoisans continue their exodus, with Chicago having the dubious distinction of the highest population loss in the nation.
High taxes are the number one reason people and businesses leave the state.
What follows is a guest post by Michael Lucci, Vice President of Policy, Illinois Policy Institute.
CHICAGO ONLY MAJOR U.S. CITY TO LOSE POPULATION FROM 2015 TO 2016
The majority of major cities in Illinois are shrinking as the Land of Lincoln depopulates due to massive out-migration to other states.
But while most of Illinois’ cities and towns are continuing to shrink, the majority of cities and towns in Illinois’ bordering states are growing, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
When Illinoisans are polled on why they are leaving, taxes are the No. 1 reason they cite. Yet Illinois politicians continue to raise taxes, showing that political leaders have not yet heard the message of the state’s residents.
Chicago shrank more than any other U.S. city, but Berwyn, Cicero and Peoria are shrinking faster on a per capita basis
Chicago’s population declined by 8,638 people from July 2015 to July 2016, a larger loss than any other major American city. Illinois has 29 cities with 50,000 people or more, and 21 of those cities also shrank in total size.
