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Idahoans continue to head for the cities |
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April 12, 2017 |
The steady shift of Idaho’s population from
smaller to larger counties continued between
July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016, according to
estimates released recently by the U.S. Census
Bureau. Overall, Idaho’s population grew 1.8
percent to 1,683,140.
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
4.1 percent, which ranked 16th nationally.
Eleven counties had a percent increase larger
than the state’s 1.8 percent gain. Two counties,
Caribou and Bonner, increased at the same rate
as the state. In all, 24 counties showed an
increase in population ranging from 10,561 more
people in Ada County to just seven more people
each in Camas and Cassia counties
Six counties experienced a decrease in
population. Clark County lost the most
population for the year, dropping 1.4 percent.
Net migration – the difference between the
number of people moving in and out of an area -
accounted for 1.1 percent of the total
population. More people moved into 33 counties
than moved out, adding 19,678 people. Eleven
counties experienced a decrease in net migration
- more people left the county than moved in for
an overall gain of nearly 19,000 people.
Sixteen counties were equal to or greater than
the state’s 1.1 percent net migration as a
percent of the total population with a combined
population of 1,059,589 with net migration of
17,575 people. These counties ranged in
population from 3,900 in Adams County to 444,028
in Ada County. The percentage of population
growth that was due inmigration was 91 percent
Births minus deaths – natural increase – is the
other major component in population changes.
Statewide there were 22,792 births between July
1, 2015, and July 1, 2016, and 12,496 deaths
resulting in a gain of 10,296 people. Ada County
reported the largest number of births - 5,127 -
and deaths - 2,831 - for a net gain of 2,296
people.
Camas County had the smallest number of births,
numbering six, and Clark County had the fewest
deaths at two. Camas County gained three people
and Clark County gained nine. Three counties -
Ada, Canyon and Bonneville - had a natural
increase of more than 1,000. Seven counties
experienced a loss – Idaho, Shoshone, Benewah,
Boise, Bonner Lemhi and Clearwater counties.
Bioundary County's estimated 2016 population was
11,681 souls, an increse of 347 from one year
earlier. From June, 2015, to April, 2016, there
were 145 babies born in the county, in the same
span, 120 people passed away.
The Census estimates reported three of Idaho’s
six Metropolitan Statistics Areas ranked in the
top 25 fastest growing by population in the
county. The Coeur d’Alene metro area ranked 11th
with a 2.6 percent increase. Boise City metro
area ranked 19th with a 2.3 percent population
increase. |
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