While Houston County is growing, most of Central Georgia is shrinking.
U.S. Census population estimates released this week show that most of the region's counties have lost population since 2010.
Just four counties in the mid-state area have gained people since the last Census: Houston, Monroe, Putnam and Wheeler counties.
Three others -- Macon, Twiggs and Hancock counties -- have lost out of 10 residents in the past eight years.
These counties are also losing people: Jones, Bibb, Baldwin, Bleckley, Johnson, Treutlen, Peach, Laurens, Crawford, Telfair, Washington, Dodge, Wilcox, Wilkinson, Pulaski, Dooly and Taylor counties.
Statewide, 82 counties have gained population since 2010 and 77 have lost people.
The latest population estimates:
| County | 2010 Census | 2017 Estimate | Gain/Loss | Change |
| Houston | 139900 | 153479 | 13579 | 8.85 |
| Wheeler | 7421 | 7952 | 531 | 6.68 |
| Monroe | 26424 | 27113 | 689 | 2.54 |
| Putnam | 21218 | 21730 | 512 | 2.36 |
| Jones | 28669 | 28470 | -199 | -0.7 |
| Bibb | 155547 | 152862 | -2685 | -1.76 |
| Baldwin | 45720 | 44906 | -814 | -1.81 |
| Bleckley | 13063 | 12830 | -233 | -1.82 |
| Johnson | 9980 | 9788 | -192 | -1.96 |
| Treutlen | 6885 | 6740 | -145 | -2.15 |
| Peach | 27695 | 27099 | -596 | -2.2 |
| Laurens | 48434 | 47330 | -1104 | -2.33 |
| Crawford | 12630 | 12295 | -335 | -2.72 |
| Telfair | 16500 | 15989 | -511 | -3.2 |
| Washington | 21187 | 20313 | -874 | -4.3 |
| Dodge | 21796 | 20730 | -1066 | -5.14 |
| Wilcox | 9255 | 8800 | -455 | -5.17 |
| Wilkinson | 9563 | 8959 | -604 | -6.74 |
| Pulaski | 12010 | 11201 | -809 | -7.22 |
| Dooly | 14918 | 13737 | -1181 | -8.6 |
| Taylor | 8906 | 8142 | -764 | -9.38 |
| Hancock | 9429 | 8561 | -868 | -10.14 |
| Twiggs | 9023 | 8174 | -849 | -10.39 |
| Macon | 14740 | 13314 | -1426 | -10.71 |
