AREA CITIES IN ILLINOIS UPSET BY FINAL CENSUS

~Correction: CARBONDALE, Ill. Carbondale experienced a population growth of 746 people during the past decade, according to Associated Press population totals for Illinois cities.

The 1980 population of the city was listed at 26,287. The latest census figure, for 1990, was 27,033. (CORRECTION RAN 1-31-91, PAGE 4A)

CAIRO, Ill. Cairo, like many other Southern Illinois cities and villages, figures there was a miscount somewhere in the 1990 census.

"We counted voter registrations, and students," said Allen Moss, mayor of this southern most city in the state. "We came up with more people that the census count, and our figures didn't include students hadn't started kindergarten, or people who were not registered to vote."

The official census count put the Cairo population at 4,846, more than 1,000 under the 1980 count of 5,931.

Moss, who will be retiring from public office this year, said he felt the census was short at least 200 to 300 people.

"We talked with a lot of people who said they were not contacted in any way," said Moss. "And, during the team house count, several houses were not counted."

Moss said the loss of population could result in a loss of as much as $60,000 to $80,000 in funds from gas taxes, and some "in leau of tax" funds.

A Mounds, Ill. official also criticized the count.

"Our census was 262 under the 1980 census," said the spokesman. "But, we know the census team missed two difference groups of housing here."

According to the census, Mounds dropped form 1,669 to 1,487.

Mound City, which is located along the Ohio River, lost 337 people during the decade, from 1,102 in 1980 to 748 in 1990.

Not many towns and villages posted increase in Alexander, Union and Pulaski counties.

Thebes, in Alexander County, showed an increase of six, from 455 in 1980 to 461 in 1990; and Alto Pass, in Union County, was up 50, to 419.

Meanwhile, Cobden, which is located only a few miles from Alto Pass, dropped form 1,210 in 1980 to 1,090 in 1990.

Population totals for several of the cities and villages in Southern Illinois, are shown here. The first figure after the name is the 1990 U.S. Census figures released this week. The second figure is the 1980 final U.S. Census total.

TS11,19RTown 1990 1980

Alto Pass: 419 369

Anna: 4,805 5,408

Cairo: 4,846 5,931

Carbondale: 17,033 16,287

Cobden: 1,090 1,210

Dongola: 728 886

East Cape: 451 539

Grand Tower: 775 748

Herrin: 10,857 10,549

Jonesboro: 1,728 1,842

Metropolis: 6,734 7,171

Mill Creek: 87 97

Mounds: 1,407 1,669

Mound City: 765 1,102

Murphysboro: 9,176 9,866

Olmsted: 258 439

Tamms: 748 826

Thebes: 461 455

Ullin: 402 550

Vienna: 1,446 1,420