SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. – The news from the U.S. Census Bureau that South Pittsburg’s population has dropped more than 300 over the past decade has city leaders questioning the accuracy of the count.
According to the census, the town’s population has dropped from 3,295 in 2000 to 2,992 in 2010.
South Pittsburg Mayor Mike Killian said the town may have lost some residents, but he doesn’t believe the numbers are right.
“The census says that we have lost population,” he said. “I know a mistake was made with the 2000 census. We’re not panicking about it, but we are going to go back and look at it ourselves with the resources that we have.”
In 2000, South Pittsburg got the same census population figure as in 1990, Killian said.