New numbers from the U.S. Census show New York state's population continued to decline last year.

(Photo: Broome County Historical Society)

The Associated Press reports figures released April 18 show the state's total population dropped by more than 48,000 between July 1, 2017 and July 1, 2018, to a total of 19.5 million.

For many years, population declines in many upstate areas were offset by growth in and around New York City. According to the report, the Census Bureau reports the city's population declined by nearly 40,000 over the one-year period after officials revised international immigration estimates.

New York is the nation's fourth largest state by population after California, Texas and Florida.

Continued population declines could cost the state one or even two congressional seats when U.S. House seats are reapportioned following the 2020 census.

Meanwhile, Broome County is preparing for the upcoming Census by educating residents about the head-count and new ways to answer the survey online that weren’t available 10 years ago.

You can hear all about the Census, what it means to Broome County and the widely-debated issue of the counting of illegal immigrants as Broome County Director of Planning and Economic Development, Frank Evangelisti is the guest on our weekly, local public affairs program, Southern Tier Close Up, Saturday at 12:10 p.m. on News Radio 1290 WNBF.