Census Says Warsaw Shrinking Slightly

An estimated drop in population pushed Warsaw's state rank last week to the lower third, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.

Census Bureau figures showed a drop between 1990 and 1996 of 230 people in Warsaw, taking it to the rank of 466 out of 566 cities and towns in the state. Warsaw's official 1990 population was 10,968; the estimated 1996 population was 10,738.

"I don't think our population has declined anywhere near that," Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said this morning.

The 1996 estimates are based on changes in housing units, said Census Bureau statistician Sam Davis. The bureau determines its estimates by looking at the number of building and demolition permits and mobile home permits, he said.

Warsaw city planner Pat Hudson said he thinks that method of determining population changes could exclude an entire segment of the population.

"New building permits per capita for single family dwellings are not that high within the corporate limits," Hudson said.

"I don't think the Census Bureau has a sense of what renting is doing within the corporate limits," he said. "I think they're missing the boat on a rental basis and on concentration in rentals."

Figures for Wayne Township show that the township grew from 22,456 in 1990 to 23,052 in 1996, a difference of 596 people. Kosciusko County also showed growth, from 65,294 in 1990 to 69,932 in 1996, or 4,638 more people.

Statewide, census figures show a shift in Indiana from larger metropolitan areas to smaller cities and towns. The fastest growing city in the state, East Germantown, in Wayne County, more than quadrupled, from 372 to 1,531.

Within Kosciusko County, Mentone and Sidney also were estimated to have lost population.