| The U.S. Census Bureau says West Virginia's population has dropped for the sixth straight year.
Estimates released Wednesday show West Virginia's population shrank by 11,216 residents. It was among nine states to lose population.
As of July 1, the state's population was estimated at about 1.81 million residents. West Virginia's population has dipped every year since reaching 1,855,360 in 2012.
The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was 5.2 percent, compared with the national rate of 3.7 percent.
Unemployment numbers are based on those currently receiving unemployment benefits, and do not reflect chronic unemployment.
The estimates show the nation's population grew less than 1 percent. | 
