Aitkin County among oldest
Several counties have quarter of population at 65 or over
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Aitkin County had a quarter of its population at 65 and over. This is among new figures from the Census Bureau showing some Minnesota counties are among the oldest in nation.
Traverse, Big Stone and Lincoln counties are also among the about two dozen counties in the nation that had at least one-quarter of their populations 65 or older on July 1, 2007.
Traverse was at 28 percent while Big Stone and Lincoln were at 25 percent.
The latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show that three counties along Minnesota's western border, and one in central Minnesota, are among the about two dozen counties in the nation where at least a quarter of the population was 65 or older on July 1, 2007
The following chart shows the bureau's 2007 population estimate for area counties, along with the median age, the percentage of the population 65 or older and the percentage that was 5 years old or younger.
- Associated Press
Also among the oldest counties in the state were Kittson, Lac qui Parle and Murray.
Rural counties throughout the nation have been struggling for years with declining, aging populations as young people grow up and move away seeking better jobs.
On the flip side, counties with the highest percentage of their population at 5 years old or younger tend to be on the far western edge of the Twin Cities.
Wright and Scott counties were the highest at 9 percent.