W.Va. age distribution

We had an editorial last week about how the college-age population in West Virginia will begin shrinking in a few years. The day after the editorial ran, the Census Bureau released its latest population estimates. These new estimates break down the state's population by year of age as of July 1, 2005.

Look at these numbers, and college officials in the state should worry about where their future students will come from:

Age 18 ... 23,274
Age 17 ... 23,174
Age 16 ... 22,775
Age 15 ... 23,555
Age 14 ... 23,162
Age 13 ... 22,731
Age 12 ... 21,832
Age 11 ... 21,315
Age 10 ... 21,082
Age 9 ... 20,782
Age 8 ... 20,264

What single year of age would you think had the most people in it here in West Virginia as of July 1, 2005? (Scroll down for the answer)


























The largest single-age group was 48, with 29,311 people, followed by age 47 (29,163) and age 50 (29,088).