Idahoans continue to head for the cities

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.