All of Beaufort County’s seven municipalities — save one — saw their populations decline from 2010 through 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Chocowinity is the only town in the county that experienced a population increase, albeit a small one, during those years. Chocowinity’s population rose from 778 people in 2010 to 798 people in 2016, a 2.6 percent increase. During the seven-year period, the town’s population was at is lowest point in 2012 with 773 residents.

In the county’s other six municipalities, the declines in populations were minor, sometimes by just two or three residents.

Chocowinity Mayor Jimmy Mobley contends the town’s population is larger than what the 20-person increase the Census Bureau figures indicate. “Actually, we gained a little bit more than that. We’ve got two housing developments. One is full, and we have Cypress Corners. We’ve gained more than,” Mobley said.

The mayor said several factors are behind the town’s population growth. “Utility rates here are cheaper — water and sewer. It’s just a nice, friendly place to be. Also, we’re close to Greenville. People are finding us over here near Greenville. People who are working over there, they’re finding it easier to live over here in a small community and be 25 to 30 minutes away from Greenville. We also have recreation and everything else they are looking for. … Our schools in the school system here — we have a lot of people who have transferred here, who want (their children) to come to these schools. That’s one of the things that really helps us — the quality of the schools.”

Washington’s population decreased from 9,847 in 2010 to 9,801 people in 2016, according to the Census Bureau, a drop of 5 percent. The city’s population fell by 7 percent from 2015 (9,868 people) to 2016. During the seven-year period, the city’s population was at its highest in 2015.

Aurora’s population fell from 520 people in 2010 to 517 people in 2016, according to census data. That represents a -0.6 percent decline. Between 2010 and 2016, the town’s population never changed by more than three residents, according to the Census Bureau.

Bath’s population from 2010 through 2016 did not change by more than two residents. In 2010, the population was 249 people, the same as in 2016. The town had 250 residents in 2015, according to census figures.

Belhaven’s population fell from 1,689 residents in 2010 to 1,588 people in 2016, a 6-percent drop, according to the Census Bureau. The 2016 population number is the lowest during the seven-year period.

Pantego’s population declined from 181 resident in 2010 to 177 people in 2016, a drop of 2.2 percent, according to census information. The town’s population fell to 180 people in 2011, falling to 179 residents in the next three years before hitting the 177 population mark last year.

Washington Park’s population declined from 449 people in 2010 to 443 residents in 2016, a drop of 1.3 percent, according to the Census Bureau. In the five years between 2010 and 2016, Washington Park’s population was either 449, 448 or 447 residents, depending on the year.

“Population trends show that many of North Carolina’s small towns are having trouble holding their own. Between 1970 and 2000, 132 municipalities — all small towns of fewer than 10,000 people — lost population. The smallest towns suffered the most. All but four that lost population had fewer than 5,000, and four out of 10 towns with fewer than 1,000 residents lost population,” according to The Rural Center’s website. “On the other hand, two-thirds of the state’s municipalities gained population during the same period. These include some small towns, especially those serving as bedroom communities for large cities or in areas popular among retirees. At least for the last decade of that period, most towns that gained population also increased land area. Eighty-two towns (all smaller than 5,000) increased population solely within existing town limits while 279 other municipalities added both population and land.”

The other municipalities in Beaufort County know population loss.

Several suburban-type municipalities in the state’s Triangle area experienced significant population growth during the seven-year period.

Fuquay-Varina, a town near Raleigh, saw its population explode by 42 percent from 2010 to 2016, going from 18,193 residents to 25,865 people. Apex, another town southwest of Raleigh, saw its population increase from 37,807 people in 2010 to 47,349 residents, a jump of 25 percent. Clayton, yet another town near Raleigh, saw its population rise from 16,283 residents in 2010 to 20,260 people in 2016, a 24-perent increase.

The following towns near Raleigh, where the population increased 12.9 percent during the seven-year period, had notable population increases from 2010 to 2016: Holly Spring, 33 percent; Knightdale, 28 percent; Wake Forest, 32 percent.

St. James, a town in Brunswick County and near Southport, saw its population jump by 66 percent from 2010 to 2016, growing from 3,202 residents to 5,317 people in during those seven years.

Three eastern North Carolina counties have no municipalities (cities, towns and villages). Those counties — Hyde, Camden and Currituck — have small populations, according to the The Rural Center. Nearly half of the state’s municipalities are in eastern North Carolina.

Martyn Johnson, Beaufort County’s economic development director, understands the challenges the loss of population poses to the county and its municipalities. “The pathway to sustainable population growth is to create a quality of place with a skilled workforce and population that is collectively and strategically focused on a prosperous future,” he wrote in an email several weeks ago when asked to comment on the county’s stagnant population growth in recent years.