These Iowa-South Dakota Border Towns Are Shrinking Fast

There is plenty of evidence all around us that the United States is continuing to grow. The latest figures show a population increase of more than five million people (up 2.7%) from 2016 to 2021.

But not everyone is in on the influx of new people.

24/7 Wall St., after reviewing population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey and employment numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has compiled a list of the fastest shrinking cities in America.

Get our free mobile app

One area along the Iowa-South Dakota made the list.

The Sioux City, IA - North Sioux City, South Dakota - South Sioux City, Nebraska region lost 18,547 people from 2016-2021, which equaled 11 percent of the area's population

Despite the exodus of people, the employment numbers in the area remained about the same, actually growing slightly (+0.2%).

The trio of Sioux Cities is one of six areas in the United States to lose more than ten percent of its population in that five-year span.

AMERICA'S FASTEST SHRINKING CITIES (2016-2021)

• Kalamazoo-Portage, Michigan: -22.5%
• Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma: -11.9%
• Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana: -11.9%
• Sioux City, Iowa, South Sioux City, Nebraska, North Sioux City, South Dakota: -11.0%
• Grand Island, Nebraska: -11.0%
• Panama City, Florida: -10.8%