Tri-Cities Tops in Growth

Apr 06, 08:55 AM

Current Headlines: By Pratik Joshi, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

Apr. 6--The Tri-Cities has been the fastest growing metropolitan area in the state since 2000 in percentage terms, according to new population estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Tri-Cities population rose an estimated 17.8 percent from 191,825 in 2000 to 226,033 in 2006, the Census Bureau said.

In contrast, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area grew 7.2 percent in the same period.

Numerically, the Tri-Cities gained 34,208 people, compared with 219,612 added in the larger Seattle area.

State demographer Theresa Lowe said demographers look at both numeric and percentage growth to interpret data. Both numbers offer perspective in analyzing the magnitude and rate of population growth in a given area, she added.

Economists say a high birth rate and migration from other areas have added to the Tri-Cities' population growth, and helped sustain economic momentum in the Tri-City area.

Elsewhere in Eastern Washington, other areas also showed strong growth rates from 2000 to 2006.

Ellensburg grew 11.5 percent and Moses Lake grew 10.6 percent. Walla Walla's population increased from 55,180 in 2000 to 57,721 in 2006, a jump of 4.6 percent.

Pullman, however, showed a loss of 2.2 percent as its population dropped from 40,740 in 2000 to 39,838 in 2006.

In Western Washington, Olympia recorded a growth rate of 13.2 percent with the addition of 27,315 residents, and Bellingham grew 11.5 percent with an increase of 19,130 residents from 2000 through 2006.

Shelton's population increased from 49,405 in 2000 to 55,951 in 2006, a gain of 6,546 or 13.2 percent.

The fastest-growing metro area in the country was St. George, Utah, which grew 39.8 percent since 2000.

Bend, Ore., was fourth with a population growth rate of 29.3 percent.

The largest numerical population increase was in the Atlanta metro area, which gained 890,000 residents over the six-year period, bringing its population to an estimated 5.1 million last year.

According to the census report, the 50 fastest-growing metro areas were almost evenly distributed between the western and the southern regions of the country.

Not surprisingly, the New Orleans metro area saw the greatest numeric loss, losing 292,000 residents since 2000.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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