Population and demographic shifts in Indiana

<p dir="ltr">With the <strong><a href= "https://2020census.gov/">U.S. Census</a></strong> underway, <strong>Hoosier History Live</strong> is turning to a respected demographer to shine a light on trends - some recent and others deeply historic - about the state's residents and where they live.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src= "http://hoosierhistorylive.org/images/Matt-Klinghorn-2020.JPG" alt= "Matt Klinghorn" width="225" height="328" align="left" />In 2018, <strong><a href= "http://www.incontext.indiana.edu/2019/may-jun/article1.asp">Indiana gained nearly 31,800 residents to reach a total population of 6.69 million</a></strong>, according to estimates provided by demographer<strong> Matt Kinghorn</strong>, a senior analyst with the <strong><a href="https://ibrc.kelley.iu.edu/">Indiana Business Research Center</a></strong> at IU's <strong><a href="https://kelley.iu.edu/">Kelley School of Business</a></strong>. The state's growth rate outpaced those of all of Indiana's neighboring states, but, Matt says, it is "still well below that seen during much of the 1990s and 2000s" - in large part due to <strong><a href= "http://www.incontext.indiana.edu/2019/may-jun/article2.asp">sharply declining birth rates</a></strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Some other intriguing statistics: In 1860 - the year before the <strong>Civil War</strong> - Indiana was the fifth most populous state in the country, "trailing New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois," Matt says.</p> <p dir="ltr">And, although 60 of Indiana's 92 counties gained people in 2018, some counties experienced population declines. In fact, several rural counties peaked in population during the early 1900s and have been losing residents ever since. Other counties with mid-sized cities that served as manufacturing hubs peaked during the 1960s and '70s.</p> <p dir="ltr">Matt will be Nelson's guest to discuss population and demographic shifts, including <strong><a href= "http://www.incontext.indiana.edu/2014/sept-oct/article1.asp">the state's increasing diversity</a></strong>. From 201