The steady shift of Idaho’s population from smaller to larger counties continues.
According to estimates released recently by the U.S. Census Bureau, Idaho’s population grew 1.8 percent to 1,683,140 between July 2015 and July 2016.
Six urban counties – Ada, Canyon, Kootenai, Bonneville, Bannock and Twin Falls – accounted for 77 percent of the growth in the state’s population and 65 percent of overall population. Valley County had the highest percentage gain at 4-point-1 percent, which ranked 16th nationally.
In all, 24 counties showed an increase in population, while six counties saw a decline – the largest of which was a 1.4 percent drop in Clark County.
Net migration accounted for 1.1 percent of the total population. Births minus deaths is the other major component in population changes. Statewide, that ratio was nearly 2-to-1, with 22,800 births and 12,500 deaths.
Nez Perce County’s population was 40,369, an increase of 0.6 percent. Clearwater County’s population also grew 0.6 percent, as did Latah County. Lewis County grew 1.4 percent, while Idaho County lost population, dropping 0.6 percent.
The Census reported two of Idaho’s six Metropolitan Statistics Areas ranked in the top 20 fastest growing by population in the country. The Coeur d’Alene metro area ranked 11th, while the Boise City metro area ranked 19th. (Idaho Department of Labor)
