Rust Belt Baltimore

More than most shrinking cities, Baltimore has worked hard to shed the Rust Belt label. With the US Census dumping data daily, the population vigilantes are out in force. Baltimore is seeking solace in schadenfreude:

Holy cow. Cleveland lost 17 percent of its population in the last decade. About 82,000 people. Since Baltimore was one of the first rust-belt cities to have its 2010 Census results announced, I've been waiting to see how our peers fared.

That's the Baltimore Sun defining the urban peer group, not I. The Charm City's soul is rust colored. Misery loves company.