Local populations decline in last 10 years

If it seems like there are less people in Hartley, Everly and Royal, it’s because there are.

Data released last month from the 2020 Census showed population declines in all three communities. In Clay and O’Brien counties, only Spencer and Sheldon ticked upward during the past decade, recording increases of 92 and 324 people, respectively.

Royal was down 67 residents to 379, a decline of 15 percent. Hartley also lost 67 residents to bring its population down 4 percent to 1,605, while Everly lost 28 residents, or 5 percent, to 575.

Hartley’s population peaked in 1960 at 1,738. Everly’s watermark...