Preble County grew ever so slightly, by 15 residents, from July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
The population estimate for the county for 2017 was 41,120.
The growth, rather than decline in population, was an improvement over past years. Since the 2010 census Preble County has shrunk by 2.7 percent.
Part of the improvement was due to positive domestic migration for the first time in years.
Since 2010, Preble County has had an average of 183 people per year move out to other states or parts of Ohio. But from 2016 to 2017 the county gained 25 residents through domestic migration.
Preble County also gained population through immigrants moving in, but actually had more deaths than births occur in the county last year.
Read more from the most recent census population estimates: More people moving into Ohio than out
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