In analyzing new census demographic data, I noticed an increase in local adoptions.

In Sunday’s story, we report on how more families are opting to adopt children. Local experts attribute the jump in adoptions to fertility issues, an increase in teenage pregnancies and more willingness to adopt foreign children or those from foster care.

In Erie County, adopted children living in family households rose to 2,208, a 5.7 percent increase from 2000. Although it’s not a large spike, the numbers are significant when compared to other census figures.

Statewide, Pennsylvania’s 2010 census count of adopted children actually dropped slightly by 1.5 percent.

Like the rest of the state, numbers of biological children living with families fell in Erie County. The county lost nearly 5,000 biological children over the decade, a 6.4 percent drop.

Here are the areas in Erie County with the highest number of adoptions, according to census data: