Atlanta’s census numbers reveal dip in black population - and lots of people who mysteriously vanished

The U.S. Census Bureau surprised us last week with the news that Atlanta’s population only grew by approximately 3,500 people, bringing the total number of folks living in the city limits to around 420,000.

That number, which is way off the bureau’s own estimates over the years that put Atlanta past the 500,000 mark, has a lot of folks — including Mayor Kasim Reed — scratching their heads.

Weren’t Midtown, the Westside and such eastern neighborhoods as Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park fast becoming dense communities? Hadn’t the Census Bureau’s own 2009 estimates put Atlanta at 540,000 people? How could the city’s population only increase by 3,500 people in 10 years? Was there an error? What happened?

Reese McCranie, the mayor’s deputy spokesman, when CL chatted with him on Friday.

“We find it surprising that the census came back with results that they did,” he said. “We’ll be looking at them closely.”

Mike Alexander, the chief of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s division that pores over statistics and monitors trends, was also surprised about the the city’s numbers. While he continued crunching data, he pointed us to this nifty interactive map his team built that offers a different look at population growth and loss on the county and city levels. He also guided us through some of the info. We’re grateful and owe him some sort of beverage.

Here’s what stood out to us.