Population loss in Mid-South called 'crisis' with opportunity at region talk
It’s common knowledge that Memphis’s population is in decline, with thousands leaving in recent years. And MidSouth Development District Director Anna McQuiston isn’t beating around the bush about what that means for Memphis. “I'm not here this afternoon to tell you that everything is fine … It’s a crisis,” she said. The MidSouth Development District held a State of the Region conference Nov. 5 that didn’t hold back on what needs to change to reduce that decline and give actionable goals for the community leaders, investors and business owners who packed Crosstown Theater. The conference reiterated a clear mantra - work together and collaborate, across city, county and state lines, because the need for change is urgent. McQuiston emphasized the organization's slogan for the event: "One Region. One Team. One Future." Downtown data: State of Downtown talk highlights growth, upcoming projects in Memphis “Our theme this year, 'One region. One team. One future … we believe it's a survival strategy,” she said. “Our region's population is declining. In 2025 alone, our six counties' population declined by 4,134 residents. That's 11 people a day.” McQuiston called the decline a "disaster," comparing it to the exodus that happened in the 1870s with
