CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia has seen a higher percentage of residents depart than any other state in the past decade.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that from 2010 to 2020, the population has dropped 3.2% — about 59,000 people.
Reasons for not staying vary, but common themes emerge: A lack of opportunity or low pay; not enough to do; poor cell phone service and internet issues, and a political climate that some find oppressive.
In an effort to reverse the population losses, West Virginia started encouraging remote workers to move to the state of 1.79 million residents through a program that will pay them $12,000 cash along with free passes to outdoor activities.
