U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Winneshiek County has lost population

The official U.S. Census figures won't be available for awhile yet, but the Census Bureau has released its estimates for 2009 population figures.

The bureau says 20,629 people were living in Winneshiek County on July 1st of 2009. That's a decrease of 82 people from July 1st of 2008. All six Northeast Iowa counties were estimated to have lost population.

Winneshiek County is the 31st largest of Iowa's 99 counties. Fayette County is 33rd; Clayton County is 39th; Allamakee County is 55th; Chickasaw County is 63rd; and Howard County is 79th.