NATCHEZ —Total population in Adams County appears to be on a downward slope.

County population estimates released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau indicate the total population in Adams County has decreased by 859 residents since 2010.

As of July 1, 2014, the county’s population is an estimated 31,737.

Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ said this steady population decline is not limited to Adams County.

“It’s not just Adams County. It’s the whole Miss-Lou region,” Russ said.

Total population in Franklin, Jefferson and Wilkinson counties, as well as Concordia Parish, have all shown downward trends, the census estimates indicate.

Since 2010, the Concordia Parish total population has dropped by an estimated 367 residents.

Within the past 15 years, Russ said many major employers including International Paper, Titan Tire and Johns Manville have left the area. In effect, thousands of employees were laid off.

“It was nothing the region had done — these industries had simply run their life course and were no longer viable,” Russ said. “They had all been there for at least 50 years.”

However, industry loss has the power to create a negative “trickle down effect,” Russ said, which can hinder future growth efforts.

“What happens is it affects our ability to recruit retail, and the amount of disposable income in the area falls,” Russ said.

Now posed with the challenge of recruiting new industries to the area, Russ said Natchez Inc., albeit being faced with area industry losses, has made significant strides recently to reverse Adams County’s dismal population trend.

Within the last year, Russ said a handful of industries has moved to the area and generated new jobs.

“Great River Industries, von Drehle and Delta Energy have all relocated to Adams County within the last 12 months,” said Russ, adding that he expects more businesses to relocate to the area soon. “Our goal is to try to bring a new and diverse industrial mix back to the area.”

Through recruiting new businesses, expanding existing industries and encouraging area entrepreneurship, Russ said he hopes the 2020 census reveals brighter numbers for Natchez and Adams County.