Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Census Says NYC's Population Went Down...
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 15, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 15, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
...NYC says, "You're crazy, U.S. Census Bureau!"
The U.S. Census released its latest populations estimates yesterday, and New York City lawmakers freaked out. Apparently, NYC saw a decrease, from 8,109,626 to a current (as of July 2004) 8,104,079; though there were population increases in the Bronx and Manhattan, decreases in Brooklyn and Queens led to the net decrease. Any total decrease affects the amount of money the government distributes for housing subsidies and other aid. And the city has had a history of successfully challenging the Census' numbers before. The head of the City Planning office's population division told the NY Times, "Everyone who studies New York's demographics knows you don't get big increases in Staten Island and substantial increases in Bronx and Manhattan, and no increase in Brooklyn and Queens, which lead the city in immigration and new housing," but a Queens College demographer wonders if the Census numbers are "finally reflecting September 11." So, that might mean the population increase many New Yorkers feel today (as evinced by the crazy housing market) will only be reflected in, like, 2009. That sounds about right for a government agency.
Of course Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz takes umbrage at the preposterous idea that people would have left Brooklyn. Here are some fun maps (all PDFS), using 2000 Census numbers, that show population density in the five boroughs. Get your population on by checking out tables from the Census Bureau.
Tagged
borough president
Borough President Marty Markowitz
bronx
brooklyn
brooklyn borough president
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz
census bureau
city
City Planning
college
demographics
fun
government
history
housing
housing market
immigration
manhattan
maps
marty markowitz
money
new york
new york city
new yorkers
News: NYC
ny times
nyc
people
queens
queens college
september 11
staten island
the city
The U
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 4:22 p.m. ET
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
News
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time
By
David Brand
School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year
By
Jessica Gould
NYC’s bridges can last 'forever,' if we take care of them
By
Clayton Guse
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .