Democracy Dies in Darkness

‘Too many old people’: A rural Pa. town reckons with population loss

There is a deepening sense of fear as population loss accelerates in rural America. The decline of small-town life is expected to be a looming topic in the presidential election.

14 min
Cars are seen on Main Street in Sheffield, Pa., on May 31. Sheffield is much like many rural Pennsylvania towns, where deaths have outpaced births. (Justin Merriman for The Washington Post)
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SHEFFIELD, Pa. — Lee Goldthwaite might have the most stable job in this remote corner of northwestern Pennsylvania.

The caretaker of Sheffield Cemetery is busier than ever directing crews clearing trees to make space for more graves as deaths dramatically outpace births here and in other vast stretches of rural America. Each time he buries a newly deceased resident he wonders how the town that once drew scores of young families will survive.

What readers are saying

The comments reflect a range of perspectives on the challenges facing small rural towns, particularly in Pennsylvania. Some suggest that entrepreneurship and openness to diversity could revitalize these areas, while others highlight the impact of globalization and infrastructure... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
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Tim Craig is a national reporter on the America desk. He previously served as head of The Washington Post’s Afghanistan-Pakistan bureau, based in Islamabad and Kabul. He has also reported from Iraq, the District and Baltimore.@timcraigpost
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