The graph and table reflect the sharp initial increase, the effect of industry growth and absorption of nearby nuclei, the strong upward trend to the maximum of the 1970 and 1980 and a subsequent decrease in the population which has mostly been absorbed by the metropolitan area (in the broad sense of the term, covering up the populations of the "second ring"). The current trend seems to be toward a moderate recovery (+5.8% between 2001 and 2005).
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