Charleston, West Virginia
The capital of West Virginia, Charleston is perhaps the best symbol of a coal-based economy’s decline. The area is pleasant enough, but job prospects have dwindled. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the population has declined from 85,800 in 1960 to just roughly 47,215 (estimated) today. The jobs (and residents) are likely never coming back.
Charleston, West Virginia
Baltimore, Maryland
If there is a bit of good news for Baltimore, it is that despite the city’s population having been declining since the 1960s, those who are moving are actually being absorbed by the suburbs. The city may have lost 1% of its residents in the past five years but the population in the metropolitan area has grown by 3% (the U.S. Census reports). That being said, there has been some unsavory headlines about Baltimore, particularly around its police force and race relations, in recent years. Then again, the city has never been high on any “Best Of” lists.
Baltimore, Maryland