Fall River's Population Decline

This past weekend, much of the talk in my hometown of Fall River has been the rapid population decline. The most recent census showed that in the past ten yeears, the population of Fall River has declined by 3,000, more than any town in the state. Once the news came, the debate came along on why it happened. It's really not rocket science. The mass exodus can be summed down to two reasons. Crime and lack of jobs.

For those who don't live in New England, Fall River is a working class city in southeastern Massachusetts. Mill buildings stand all over the city as relics of what used to be. Like many other blue collar manufacturing towns, Fall River has hit hard times in recent years. Double digit unemployment has been the norm here. Many of the jobs that was lost here are jobs that are going to places like China. Jobs that are never coming back.

Perhaps nothing in this city symbolizes the decline of jobs in this city than the old site of the Quaker Fabrics headquarters on Brayton Ave. Once filled with cars seven days a week, Quaker made a quick downward spiral till it went out of business, taking 2,00 jobs with it. More recently, A.J. Wright closed it Fall River Distribution Center, taking another 800 jobs.

The old mill buildings that once was on the Brayton Ave. Quaker site are now demolished to make way for a new shopping plaza. Target and Lowe's are two of the stores that are rumored to be moving in. While the jobs that they will provide is better than no jobs. But most of the jobs there won't have the pay and benefits that Quaker did. Fall River was teased again with the possibility about a casino coming to town. But the Governor and the State Legislature was unable to come with an agreement on a casino bill, denying a city some much needed jobs.

Crime is another part of this. It's sad on what parts of this city have become. We always had crime, but nothing like it was in recent years. Gangs, drugs, shootings. Our undermanned police department have a lot on their hands. They are neighborhoods that used to be part of my running routes that I don't go through anymore.

Why are people leaving? A hard working couple might want to raise their kids in the best environment possible? Upon hearing about a drive by shooting in the projects a few blocks away, they might want to look into moving to Somerset and Swansea. A young man wants to find a jobs in the field he went to college for. He put himself into debt to pay for his education. Unable to find a job in the Fall River area, he might look into moving to North Carolina or Florida.

Listen, I lived here all of my life and despite all of this problems, there's a lot of good about the city. Most of the people are friendly and there's lots to do here. Cape Cod, Boston, Newport, the forest and beaches are all short drives away. But I too in the past have thought about relocation for the reasons that I listed above.

I really hope the trend reverses itself. But if the jobs and crime situation continues to decline, then this city will continue to lose it's best and brightest people. It's too bad, because this city has so much potential.