EDITORIAL: Anderson has assets to reverse population loss

July 18, 2008 01:47 am

— Anderson’s population is dwindling. And now is the time to turn it around. In the past seven years, Anderson has lost 2,451 residents, according to recent figures from the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University.
How did this happen?
Automotive jobs left. Workers went with them.
Meanwhile, there is growth in Ingalls, which is annexing new areas into its town limits. In addition, younger families are moving into Ingalls, where they are close to their jobs in Indianapolis.
Previous projections have shown that by the time the 2010 census is taken, 73 of Indiana’s 90 counties will have grown.
Counties expected to have the biggest population declines are Vermillion, Posey and Madison counties. Madison County is expected to lose the most.
We recall former Mayor J. Mark Lawler’s five-year campaign titled Live in Anderson.
One of the elements of the campaign was to promote retirement living in Anderson. This should be re-emphasized, in conjunction with area hospitals and retirement homes, for the simple reason that the aging population will increase in Madison County.
In 2005, there were 19,872 people over the age of 65 in the county. By the year 2020, projections show Madison County will have 24,798 in that age group. By the year 2040, Madison County is expected to have 29,300 people over 65.
Other elements of the Live in Anderson campaign tied in local Realtors, the Chamber of Commerce and city government in spreading the word about Anderson’s affordability, primarily to market the city to those working in nearby Indianapolis.
We encourage Mayor Kris Ockomon to revisit the concept of the Live in Anderson plan, components of which looked forward to the year 2020.
While touting proximity to Indianapolis and affordable, plentiful housing, local leaders should aggressively market the community’s many others assets, such as Hoosier Park, Anderson University and an attractive downtown.
We have the right mix of community attributes to reverse Anderson’s population loss. It’s just a matter of publicizing them.