While many rural towns across the U.S. are experiencing shrinking populations as young people pursue opportunities in more urban areas, the small town of Onalaska, WA has been growing. This is due in large part to the community’s investment in education and outdoor recreation.

Key findings

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“In Onalaska over the last five years, the number of people in their 20s and early 30s has doubled.”

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“Enrollment in the Onalaska School District — which includes the town and outlying areas — rose by about 14 percent between May of 2014 and May of 2018, to 851 students.”

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“According to the University of Pennsylvania's Public Policy Initiative, 1,350 of the country's 1,976 non-metro counties have lost population since 2010.”

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