Troy

The city's population slipped below 50,000 in 2012, drawing the attention of the U.S. Census Bureau, which made special note of it in announcing the nation's population estimates Thursday.

Only Troy and Joplin, Mo., fell below the 50,000 benchmark among 19,516 incorporated communities nationwide. Nine communities joined the club of 726 places with more than 50,000 residents.

Troy declined from 50,072 in 2011 to 49,946 in 2012. Joplin's population dropped from 50,475 to 49,526. The Census Bureau noted that the city was devastated by a tornado in May 2011.

Locally, the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program, which draws on data about births, deaths and migration, offered a startling change along the usually growing Northway corridor in Saratoga County.

Clifton Park and Malta posted slight declines even as their Northway neighbors added residents. The population of Clifton Park fell by 57 people to 36,848, while Malta had 16 fewer residents for a total of 14,853.

Meanwhile, Moreau, Halfmoon, Saratoga Springs and Wilton posted triple-digit increases.

The Capital District Regional Planning Commission has projected 3.2 percent population growth locally from 2010 to 2020.

Rocco Ferraro, the commission's executive director, said projections predict stability in the region's cities with growth occurring in the surrounding suburbs.

Baby boomer retirements, shrinking government employment, the recession, smaller household sizes and the addition of jobs in the high-tech sector will have positive and negative impact on population growth, Ferraro said.

Ferraro noted that Census Bureau estimates of the local population have been off in the past. He noted Troy's 2009 estimated population of 47,556 was lower than the 2010 Census count of 50,129. Troy had been in a spiraling population decline until the 2010 Census. In recently, city officials have touted investment in the city, but in most cases these projects are under development and have yet to boost population.

The federal 2012 population estimates bear out CDRPC's projections. The largest suburban towns grew, while the cities were essentially stable as Albany added seven residents; Watervliet four; and Cohoes 12; Schenectady lost 17; Mechanicville was down 29; and Rensselaer dropped by 22.

More Information Population counts Below is each Capital Region community with its 2011 and 2012 estimated populations. Community: 2011; 2012 Albany County: 304.628; 305,455 Villages Altamont village 1,7201,720 Colonie village: 7,820; 7,869 Green Island: 2,617; 2,620 Menands village: 3,987; 3,990 Ravena: 3,280; 3,280 Voorheesville: 2,806; 2,811 Towns and Cities Albany: 97,897; 97,904 Berne: 2,799; 2,809 Bethlehem: 33,777; 34,093 Coeymans: 7,428; 7,446 Cohoes: 16,162; 16,174 Colonie: 81,735; 82,044 Green Island: 2,617; 2,620 Guilderland: 35,358; 35,465 Knox: 2,699; 2,711 New Scotland: 8,703; 8,719 Rensselaerville: 1,844; 1,848 Watervliet: 10,240; 10,244 Westerlo: 3,369; 3,378 Rensselaer County: 159,880; 159,835 Villages Castleton-on-Hudson: 1,469; 1,469 East Nassau: 584; 582 Hoosick Falls: 3,484; 3,474 Nassau: 1,127; 1,123 Schaghticoke: 591; 589 Valley Falls: 465; 466 Towns and Cities Berlin: 1,876; 1,874 Brunswick: 12,171; 12,157 East Greenbush: 16,469; 16,472 Grafton: 2,131; 2,138 Hoosick: 6,898; 6,893 Nassau: 4,803; 4,808 North Greenbush: 12,093; 12,123 Petersburgh: 1,523; 1,521 Pittstown: 5,742; 5,749 Poestenkill: 4,539; 4,537 Rensselaer: 9,506; 9,484 Sand Lake: 8,553; 8,534 Schaghticoke: 7,676; 7,668 Schodack: 12,929; 13,028 Stephentown: 2,899; 2,903 Troy: 50,072; 49,946 Saratoga County Saratoga County: 221,081; 222,133 Villages Ballston Spa: 5,414; 5,417 Corinth: 2,554; 2,535 Galway: 200; 200 Round Lake: 622; 617 Schuylerville: 1,386; 1,387 South Glens Falls: 3,531; 3,610 Stillwater: 1,743; 1,734 Victory: 604; 601 Waterford: 1,983; 1,968 Towns and Cities Ballston: 9,884; 9,942 Charlton: 4,147; 4,128 Clifton Park: 36,905; 36,848 Corinth: 6,534; 6,506 Day: 858; 854 Edinburg: 1,218; 1,216 Galway: 3,555; 3,542 Greenfield: 7,795; 7,783 Hadley: 2,064; 2,060 Halfmoon: 21,998; 22,321 Malta: 14,869; 14,853 Mechanicville: 5,241; 5,212 Milton: 18,654; 18,729 Moreau: 14,768; 15,127 Northumberland: 5,137; 5,132 Providence: 2,017; 2,020 Saratoga: 5,691; 5,681 Saratoga Springs: 26,675; 26,960 Stillwater: 8,333; 8,314 Waterford: 8,437; 8,403 Wilton: 16,301; 16,502 Schenectady County: 154,854; 155,124 Villages Delanson: 377; 379 Scotia: 7,711; 7,709 Towns and City Duanesburg: 6,181; 6,209 Glenville: 29,486; 29,541 Niskayuna: 21,874; 22,028 Princetown: 2,125; 2,128 Rotterdam: 29,093; 29,140 Schenectady: 66,095; 66,078 Source: U.S. Census Bureau See More Collapse

Albany, with 97,904 residents, is the 297th largest city in the country, according to the Census Bureau.

kcrowe@timesunion.com • 518-454-5084 • @KennethCrowe