Illinois Losing Population vs. USA

For The Good of Illinois reports:

Illinois only growing half as fast as the country. The population in Illinois from 2000-2006 grew at a 3.3% rate, while the USA at large grew at a 6.4% rate. Illinois grew only half as fast as the average rate of our country. Among our neighbors, Illinois only beat Iowa in the population growth rate. Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Missouri, all beat Illinois in population growth. And don’t blame it on the weather, even South Dakota beat Illinois in growing the population of their state. Still, Illinois is the 5th largest state in the country. As of 2006, 12,832,000 people reside in Illinois.

Illinois losing power. An Illinois that is not keeping pace with the average state in the country, means that Illinois is losing power: diminished Federal money, less clout in the electoral college, and fewer seats in Congress. In the 2000 census, Illinois was one of only 6 states to lose a congressional seat. Illinois went from 20 Congressional seats to 19 seats. Illinois lost a seat by only 40,000 people. Indiana did not lose a seat. Of our neighbors, only Wisconsin also lost a seat.

To illustrate the loss of congressional power, in 1950 Illinois had a population of 8,711,176 and 26 of the 435 congressional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. By 2006, Illinois has a population of 12,800,000 and only 19 of 435 congressional seats. By the nation growing faster than our state grows, Illinois citizens have a diluted and diminishing power in the country. In fact, our state has lost 27% of its power in just 58 years.

Illinois affected nationally. The loss of Illinois power on the national stage is best reflected by the federal tax dollars that Illinois sends to Washington D.C. Illinois is a donor state. While Illinois taxpayers send up $89 billion dollars, Illinois receives $65 billion dollars back in federal aid. As of 2004 (latest data available), Illinois only receives 73 cents back on every dollar it sends to the federal government. While the Illinois federal tax contribution ranks 11th highest in the country, Illinois ranks 46th nationally in dollars returned! We do a very poor job of getting our fair share. But look at how our neighboring states are doing: Wisconsin ($0.82), Indiana ($0.97), Missouri ($1.29), and Kentucky ($1.45). Our neighbors are growing their populations faster than we are and correspondingly exerting more influence in Washington D.C.

Illinois affected locally. And the losses do not just effect Illinois on a national basis. Locally, every parcel of real estate- residential and commercial- in Illinois is priced lower than it should be. More people living in Illinois would mean higher demand- translating into higher real estate prices. Between, 2001-2006, Illinois real estate values increased at a slightly below average pace compared to the country at large: Illinois was 26th of the 50 states.

There is a maxim in business: you are either growing or your dying. Versus the rest of the country, Illinois is dying slowly. In 1950, we were 5.5% of the USA. Today, we are only 4.1% of the nation. We are not maximizing our resources, opportunities and liberties. In fact, our resources are helping to fund the growth in the rest of the USA.

Neighbor states growing faster. Why can our neighboring states grow their populations faster than Illinois? Illinois is certainly the more attractive state- why can’t Illinois grow at the average pace of the USA? And it’s not the weather, remember South Dakota grew its population faster than Illinois!

When a state can elect this bookie's good friend for Governor,you know you've got problems.