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Lincoln And Putnam County Location Change Causes Concern

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Charleston officials are concerned about the potential impact of a federal decision to move Lincoln and Putnam counties to the Huntington-Ashland, Ky., metropolitan area.

The Charleston metro area's population dropped by about 77,000 residents as a result of the change.

Mayor Danny Jones says that the change could make his city less attractive to new businesses or new residents.

The federal Office of Management Budget uses a set formula to draw boundaries for metropolitan statistical areas every 10 years following the census. The agency determined that Lincoln and Putnam counties have stronger commuting ties with Huntington than with Charleston.

The decision leaves the Charleston metro area with Kanawha, Boone and Clay counties.