Mayor Clarifies Census Data Saying City's Population Has Grown

Milford, CT December 22, 2011:  Mayor Benjamin Blake today directed all Milford officials, employees, and agents to ensure that the City’s correct population total, 52,759, is reflected on all grant applications and other municipal requests (State/Federal/Private) for funding and services. 

Further, Blake asked members of the City’s legislative delegation to verify that Milford’s population numbers have been accurately considered during the Reapportionment Committee’s process of redistricting. 

Blake issued the directive in response to local media reports from August 2011 which suggested that Milford’s population declined between the 2000 Census and 2010 Census since the number of city residents has actually grown slightly over the ten year period between 2000 (52,305) and 2010 (52,759). 

 “Rumors of Milford’s population demise have been greatly exaggerated,” said Mayor Blake. 

According to Community Development Director, Bob Gregory, the initial miscommunication apparently stemmed from how the Census figures were first reported.  Mr. Gregory confirmed that:

“In some areas of the 2010 Census data there appeared ‘Woodmont borough and ‘Milford city (balance)’ not combined.  In 2000 there always was another category ‘Milford town (New Haven County)’ that combined the two and gave the total.  So when everyone looked at the areas of the 2010 Census and saw Milford at 51,271 the false assumption was made that was the correct number.  After my inquiry, Census officials pointed to another area of data that correctly combines Woodmont and Milford and gives us the total population of 52,759, an increase from 2000's 52,305.”