The town was included on the list of localities undergoing depopulation. Imported lumber from Canada and China made inroads into the market for locally produced Aizu paulownia, and the resulting tumble in prices struck a heavy blow to the lifeline of the Mishima-machi economy.
當地農林業衰退的浪潮侵襲著三島町，特別是名材「會津桐」，受到來自加拿大、中國等地輸入外材的影響，價格大幅跌落，動搖了三島町的經濟命脈。