Study from UVA says Danville's population will fall by 25% in 20 years

The recent population projections put out by the Weldon Cooper Center at the University of Virginia are not kind to the future of Danville.

The projection says in the next twenty years, Danville will lose 25 percent of their current population, which is estimated to be slightly over 40,000 residents.

Shonel Sen with the Weldon Cooper Center says the projections are based on recent trends.

"In terms of the reasoning behind it, there are several behind it, from 2010 to 2018 we have seen that Danville is steadily losing it's population." said Sen.

Sen says Danville's aging population and history of job losses are reason why the city is projected to shrink.

However, Danville mayor, Alonzo Jones, believes more consideration should've been given to the city's recent developments.

"I think if they would sit down with the city council and school board, then we could show them what we are doing to grow our community." said Jones.

Sen says the projection totals can change as the city's actual population changes, but it is difficult to incorporate programs and developments into current studies.