Albert Lea’s population declined by 340 people from 2000 to 2010, according to figures released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The data states Albert Lea’s total population declined from 18,356 in 2000 to 18,016 in 2010. It is a 1.9 percent decline.

Former District 27A Rep. Dan Dorman, who is the executive director of the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, said the census results were expected, based on a 2007 Minnesota State Demographic Center report.

The report showed Freeborn County slowly decreasing in population through 2010 and then increasing starting in 2015.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen said, despite the decrease, he was happy the city stayed above 18,000, considering there had been people predicting there could have been an even larger decrease.

Dorman said the challenge for Albert Lea and for other cities experiencing a similar decline in the future will be to find the necessary skilled workers for the community, especially as the economy improves.

“That subset of people will only become more valuable in the future,” he said. “As more people retire, the challenge of communities will be to attract and retain skilled workers.”

He said Albert Lea should capitalize on its quality of life issues to do so.

“In the long run that’s how we can outpace the state demographer’s predictions,” Dorman said.

Interim Albert Lea City Manager Pat McGarvey agreed.

He said population decline in the Midwest is widespread outside of the metro areas.

“It has been occurring for decades as the trend to accomplish farming with larger farms and machinery is achieved with far fewer farmers,” McGarvey said. This trend causes loss in related employment in the rural area communities. Then add the loss of manufacturing employment and climate choices away from cold weather areas in favor of the sunbelt and you have some of the root causes for population decline.”

He said in Mason City, Iowa, where he lives, the actual decline is nearly three times the number for Albert Lea. In 1970, the Mason City population was about 30,600, while the 2010 population was barely over 27,000. Of the 99 Iowa counties, he said he thinks only 12 had a gain in population from 2000 to 2010.

“Albert Lea can’t change climate,” McGarvey said. “We can change community amenities to address contemporary lifestyle preferences, adapt to the challenges and opportunities to sustain jobs and support efforts to gain employment that appeals to and fulfills peoples’ goals for employment and living.”

Out of the total population, 14,143 residents are 18 years and over.

There are reportedly 8,410 housing units in the city, of which 636 are vacant.

The numbers give city and county officials the first official look at population counts, race, voting age and housing unit data from the 2010 Census. The information may be used to redraw federal, state and local legislative districts, based on population shifts since the previous census.