Nearby Sheffield, in Warren County, came under the national spotlight earlier this week as the feature of a Washington Post article on aging populations in rural Pennsylvania towns.

The article quoted many locals, including Lee Goldthwaite, Jack Cashmere, Lonny Connolly, Chief Matthew Bell of the Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department and Dennis Sturdevant, town historian.

In recent years, Sheffield has lost several businesses including the local bank and ambulance services. Now, the town also stands at risk of its high school closing due to a lack of students.

Across rural Pennsylvania, and the nation, the population of small towns continues to dwindle. Warren, McKean, Potter and Elk counties declined by 2 percent from 2020 to 2023, according to the Pennsylvania State Data Center. Forest County had the greatest population decline in the state during that time period, with a 7.5 percent loss. Cameron County saw a decrease of 3.6 percent, according to the data center.

Population declines often lead to the closing of essential businesses such as local post offices and pharmacies. Specialists and general practitioners could close, forcing those who live in rural areas to sometimes travel hours away for a doctor appointment.

Many young people choose better-paying careers that take them away from rural areas. Those who continue to reside in rural America often struggle to put both parents in the workforce due to lack of affordable child care, according to the article.