A new study shows that Western Pennsylvania is expected to continue its population loss over the next couple of decades.
The study was done by Center for Rural Pennsylvania, and it cited an aging population and decline in rural communities as the main reason for the population loss.
The study says Butler County could suffer a loss of 7.5 percent in population by 2050—which is about 20,000 people.
Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties had the highest number of estimated losses, around 16 percent each.
However, Pennsylvania’s population could grow by 1.6 percent by 2050, mainly in the southeastern part of the state.
