Courtesy of Mish.
Illinois voters are voting with their feet. Not only are people scrambling to get out of Cook County, but the entire state is suffering.
Illinois Policy Institute writer Michael Lucci explains in this guest post on Cook County Migration.
Cook County has Largest Population Loss of Any County in U.S.
Cook County lost more population than any other county in the United States from July 2015 to July 2016, according to a new data release from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Cook County shrank by 21,324 people. The county had more births than deaths and gained 18,434 people from international immigration. However, Cook County had a net loss of 66,244 people to other parts of the United States, which more than offset the components of population growth.
However, the people leaving Cook County aren’t showing up in other parts of Illinois when the net movements of people are considered.
In fact, most of Illinois is depopulating – 93 of Illinois’ 102 counties are experiencing net out-migration, and 89 of Illinois’ 102 counties have shrinking populations. Illinois’ dysfunctional government, weak job creation, and ever-increasing tax burden help explain why. A Paul Simon Public Policy Institute poll released in October 2016 found that taxes were the No. 1 reason people want to leave Illinois.
Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, Will counties see net out-migration to other parts of the U.S.
