A region's economy thrives or dives because of the people who choose to live there. That choice may occur by being born there and desiring to stay, or a more deliberate one of choosing to relocate from somewhere else. Monitoring change in the size and movement of population is an important barometer of well-being.
| Population Over Time | |||||
| 2000 | 2010 | 2017 | 2020 | 2022 | |
| Total Population | 73,410 | 70,063 | 66,373 | 66,661 | 66,022 |
| Change Since 2000 | -3,347 | -7,037 | -6,749 | -7,388 | |
| Pct. Change Since 2000 | -4.6% | -9.6% | -9.2% | -10.1% | |
| Components of Population Change 2021 to 2022 | ||
| Number | ||
| Net Domestic Migration | 136 | |
| International Migration | 37 | |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -324 | |
| Births | 744 | |
| Deaths | 1,068 | |
| Population Estimates by Age in 2021 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 3,734 | 5.6% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 10,324 | 15.6% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 8,412 | 12.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 14,221 | 21.5% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 16,594 | 25.1% |
| Older (65 plus) | 12,978 | 19.6% |
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2021 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| American Ind. or Alaskan Native Alone | 304 | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 596 | 0.9% |
| Black Alone | 5,085 | 7.7% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 29 | 0.0% |
| White Alone | 58,393 | 88.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 1,856 | 2.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | ||
| Non-Hispanic or Latino | 63,034 | 95.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,229 | 4.9% |
| Households in 2021 | ||
| Number | Pct. Dist | |
| Total Households | 26,299 | 100.0% |
| Family Households | 16,813 | 63.9% |
| Married with Children | 3,746 | 14.2% |
| Married without Children | 8,047 | 30.6% |
| Single Parents | 2,935 | 11.2% |
| Other | 2,085 | 7.9% |
| Non-family Households | 9,486 | 36.1% |
| Living Alone | 8,110 | 30.8% |
| Average Household Size | 2.52 | |
| Average Family Household Size | 3.94 | |
| Population Counts by Decade | |||
| Population | Numerical Chg. | Pct. Chg. | |
| 1950 | 62,156 | NA | NA |
| 1960 | 75,741 | 13,585 | 21.9% |
| 1970 | 83,955 | 8,214 | 10.8% |
| 1980 | 80,934 | -3,021 | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 74,169 | -6,765 | -8.4% |
| April 2000 | 73,410 | -759 | -1.0% |
| April 2010 | 70,063 | -3,347 | -4.6% |
| Population Projections | |||||
| 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | 2030 | |
| Population Projections | 70,061 | 67,692 | 65,685 | 63,984 | 62,233 |
| Change Since 2010 | -2,369 | -4,376 | -6,077 | -7,828 | |
| Pct. Change Since 2010 | -3.4% | -6.2% | -8.7% | -11.2% | |