According to new data released by the California Department of Finance, California's population has declined for a second year in a row with four Bay Area counties topping the list in largest percent decreases.
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Using census data, the department found that the state's population dipped by 117,552 residents in 2021, bringing the total to 39,185,605.
State officials attributed the decrease to aging baby boomers, federal policies restricting immigration, COVID-19 related deaths and an increase in people leaving the state.
Four Bay Area counties made the list of top ten largest percentage decreases, including Napa which decreased 1%, San Mateo which decreased 0.9%, Marin which decreased 0.9% and San Francisco which decreased .8%. Every coastal county lost residents except San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz as college students returned to campus.
Only two counties had growth above one percent: Yolo, which saw an 1.8% increase in population due to college dorms, and San Benito, which saw a 1.1% rise due to housing gains, the department revealed.
The continual decline in residents has caused major problems for Bay Area public schools as district officials struggle to keep doors open. Due to waning funding, Oakland Unified School District has opted to close seven schools in the next two years, a decision that caused an outcry among parents and faculty.
Despite the population decrease, officials believe the decline may be slowing, as it only fell 0.3% in 2021 versus 0.59% in 2020.
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