Population is the basis of planning and marketing in any region. The U.S. Census is the benchmark for the estimates of people, housing, employment, the economy, and many other demographic factors that are part of the portrait we wish to create.

The three most populated counties (Luzerne, Lackawanna and Schuylkill) declined in population since 1990. This loss was cancelled by small growth in four other counties. Monroe and Pike Counties account for the overall increase in the region's population.

Northeastern Pennsylvania grew by 55,000 persons (5.5%) from the 1990 to the 2000 Census. This is greater than the rate for Pennsylvania (3.4%) but less than that of the U.S. (13.2%).