Census: Population fleeing western Oklahoma

(Undated-AP) -- Harmon County is losing people faster than any other Oklahoma county.<br><br>Data from the US Census Bureau shows that between July 2002 and July 2003, Harmon County lost 55 residents,

Friday, April 9th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Undated-AP) -- Harmon County is losing people faster than any other Oklahoma county.

Data from the US Census Bureau shows that between July 2002 and July 2003, Harmon County lost 55 residents, or 1.8% of its population.

The loss drops the county down to a population of 3,053, barely enough to support some school programs in the area.

Major County, also in western Oklahoma, was second in population loss, losing 1.4% of its population. Harper County was third losing 1.2% of its population.

All the counties are rural and west of Interstate 35. They are part of growing trend of dwindling population in rural areas.

With fewer jobs in farming or oil companies, the younger generation is moving to urban areas for work.

Population loss in Major County has hit the county's tax base hard and has forced the county to consider shutting down its county fair and extension office.