Census: Western shore’s loss is Eastern Shore’s gain

Despite its healthier job market, the western shore of Maryland lost population to the Lower Shore during the recession and its aftermath, according to new Census Bureau data.

Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester pulled 1,200 more people from the five western shore counties and Baltimore city than what they took from the east side of the bay from 2007 to 2011.

It doesn't look like jobs were on those movers' minds. The annual unemployment rate was 1 to 2 percentage points higher on the Lower Shore versus the western shore during that time.

Overall, one out of six people -- or 2,559 of the 14,477 -- who came to the three lower counties were from the western shore, the Census report reveals. The report doesn't define what constitutes the western shore, but most generally agree the area includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Harford and St. Mary's counties and Baltimore city.

The smallest of the three counties gained the most from its brethren across the Chesapeake Bay. Some 985 more people headed to Somerset rather than the opposite direction. The largest population pipeline anywhere between the western shore and Lower Shore areas was the city of Baltimore to Somerset -- a net of 521 new residents.

Meanwhile, Wicomico lost 110 people to the western shore, and Worcester added 348.

Check out the table yourself. Each row shows the number of residents added (or lost in the case of minuses) to the county listed in the column header. Somerset added 30 more Wicomico residents than it gave away to Wicomico, for example. I'd like to hear what your theories are for this west-to-east migration.

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