If it seems like there are less people in Hartley, Everly and Royal, it’s because there are.

Data released last month from the 2020 Census showed population declines in all three communities. In Clay and O’Brien counties, only Spencer and Sheldon ticked upward during the past decade, recording increases of 92 and 324 people, respectively.

Royal was down 67 residents to 379, a decline of 15 percent. Hartley also lost 67 residents to bring its population down 4 percent to 1,605, while Everly lost 28 residents, or 5 percent, to 575.

Hartley’s population peaked in 1960 at 1,738. Everly’s watermark was 796 in 1980 while Royal also topped out that decade at 522.

The biggest loser in Clay County was tiny Gillett Grove, which lost 19 residents to bring its population from 49 to 30. The decline represented 39 percent of its population from 2010.

Calumet took that title in O’Brien County, losing 14 percent of its population over the last decade. It was down 24 residents from 170 to 146.

Sanborn and Primghar recorded the lowest losses in O’Brien County with 1 percent declines each. Sanborn was down 12 residents to 1,392, while Primghar lost 13 residents to bring its population to 896.

Fostoria in Clay County lost just a single resident to bring its population down from 231 to 230.

Overall, O’Brien County was down 216 residents to 14,182, representing a 1.5 percent decline. Clay County was down 283 residents to 16,384, or 2 percent.