An organization that keeps an eye on rural interests says population in the state’s rural areas will shrink dramatically within 25 years. Leaders with the Center for Rural Pennsylvania say their extensive research on the issue shows that by 2050, the population within rural counties is expected to shrink by nearly six percent. They say the changes will impact a wide range of issues, including a decrease in economic growth and a decline in the demand for goods and services. Those can lead to lower tax revenues and a decreased quality of life for local populations.
