The numbers are out for the census that was conducted last year, and they show that Chattooga County’s population is decreasing.

The census, which is held every 10 years, took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which made population counting difficult.

The numbers show that Chattooga County’s population has dropped by about 4% over the past ten years.  Walker and Dade Counties also show a population loss in the Northwest Georgia region.

Catoosa County had the largest increase in population and Whitfield and Floyd Counties show a modest growth.

Georgia remains the nation’s eighth-most populous state in the nation, with a population of 10.7 million, up from 9.7 million a decade ago.