Tag: U.S. Census Bureau

Report: ACA Continues to Help West Virginians

Data released Tuesday by the United States Census Bureau shows the Affordable Care Act continues to reduce the number of West Virginians without health insurance.

In 2016, 96,000 West Virginians lacked health insurance coverage – that’s down 12,000 from the previous year, according to a news release from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy – which studied the U.S. Census Bureau’s data.

Nearly 95 percent of West Virginians had health insurance last year.

Between 2013 and 2016, West Virginians without health insurance declined by 9 percent. West Virginia has had the fifth largest decrease in its uninsured rate among all 50 states under the ACA.

Interim Executive Director for the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy Sean O’Leary says the Affordable Care Act has been vital to the overall health of the state. Particularly, he says, it’s aided with substance abuse issues and developing treatment for opioid addiction.

State Loses Nearly 10,000 Residents Over Past Year

Census estimates show that West Virginia lost population over the past year.

The estimates released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau put the state’s population at 1,831,102 on July 1. That’s down nearly 10,000 from the July 2015 estimate and down about 23,000 from 2010. Between 2000 and 2010, the state’s population grew by nearly 45,000 residents.

In all, eight states lost population. Illinois was the only state to lose more residents over the one-year period than West Virginia, which has been hit hard by the downturn in the coal industry.

The estimates show the nation’s population grew less than 1 percent.

Beckley Jobs to be Available Ahead of 2018 Census Test

Jobs will soon be available in southern West Virginia involving a 2018 Census Test that will be performed in preparation for the 2020 Census.

The Register-Herald of Beckley reports that a nine-county area that includes Bluefield, Beckley and Oak Hill is one of three locations across the country that has been chosen for the 2018 test.

The test helps the U.S. Census Bureau determine how best to conduct the 2020 Census — whether through internet, telephone, traditional paper questionnaires or in-person visits.

Beginning in the spring, the Census Bureau will seek temporary, full- and part-time positions to support the test. An office will be established in Beckley to manage the test.

Charleston Dips Below 50,000 Population

West Virginia no longer has a city above 50,000 in population.U.S. Census estimates released Thursday show Charleston dipped below the threshold last…

  West Virginia no longer has a city above 50,000 in population.

U.S. Census estimates released Thursday show Charleston dipped below the threshold last year. The state’s largest city had an estimated population of 49,736, down 590 residents from the year before.

It marks the first time that Charleston was below 50,000 in population since the 1920 Census, when it had 39,608 people. The city’s population shot up to more than 60,000 in 1930.

Huntington remains West Virginia’s second-largest city at 48,638, Parkersburg was third at 30,991 and Morgantown was fourth at 30,708.

W.Va. Education Officials Dispute Spending Totals

A report released Monday by NPR tracks the amount of money spent on each student across the country by county. But representatives of the West Virginia Department of Education say the data reported doesn’t add up in West Virginia.

NPR and the national publication Education Week attribute their spending numbers to the U.S. Census Bureau. Their map says in West Virginia, McDowell County spent the most at $14,000 per student in 2013. Jefferson County, according to the map, spent the least per pupil at around $8,000.

But Amy Willard, Executive Director of School Finance for the West Virginia Department of Education, says the numbers don’t match state spending records.

“The numbers that are reflected in this story do not agree to the data that we have,” she explained, “It says in the story that the data is adjusted for regional cost differences, and it appears there have been additional adjustments made, and we cannot speak as to what those adjustments are.”

Willard says the state Department of Education’s data shows Jefferson County spending over $11,000 per student in 2013, with Hardy County spending the least amount per pupil at $9,700.

County Boards of Education Per Pupil Expenditures for the 2012-2013 Year:


In both cases however, NPR’s data and the state Department of Education show McDowell County spending the most on its students. Willard says this in part has to do with the county receiving a considerable amount of federal funding to spend on education.

“Presumably due to the economic conditions in that county, they are receiving a higher amount of federal funding, which is driving up their overall per pupil expenditures. That appears to be the main reason for the higher expenditures in that county.”

According to the state Department of Education, Doddridge County is the only other county to spend over $14,000 on an individual student per year.

Census: West Virginia Loses Residents in 2015

The latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show West Virginia was one of seven states to lose population.

According to figures released Tuesday, West Virginia lost 4,623 residents between July 2014 and July 2015. The 0.25 percent dip was the highest in the nation.

Illinois lost 22,194 residents, the most of any state. Connecticut, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico and Vermont also lost population.

West Virginia and Maine were the only states where deaths outnumbered births. There were an estimated 21,704 deaths and 20,764 births in West Virginia during the period.

North Dakota was the fastest-growing state with a 2.2 percent increase. California remained the most populous state at 39.1 million.

North Carolina added 102,415 residents to surpass 10 million in population.  

Virginia saw a gain of nearly 55,000 residents.

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