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Estimate puts Baxter population at 8,271
Staff Writers Baxter posted the greatest population gains of lakes area cities between 2007 and 2008, but a majority of lakes area cities grew at least a little.
Updated U.S. Census Bureau numbers were released Tuesday.
Baxter's estimated 2008 population grew by 194 people from 2007 to reach 8,271. That's an increase of 2,716 residents in Baxter since the 2000 census. Brainerd lost eight people between 2007 and 2008, but the city - the largest in Crow Wing County - gained 513 residents since the 2000 census.
Other cities with notable population gains from 2007 to 2008 were Pierz with 40, Breezy Point with 27, Crosby with 21, Crosslake with 24, Emily 20, Jenkins with 19, Nisswa with 19, Pequot Lakes with 20 and Pillager with 12.
Aitkin posted the greatest population loss with 32 residents leaving the city between 2007 and 2008 followed by Staples with a loss of 23 residents. Several area cities remained stable with a small amount of people arriving or departing.
Baxter Mayor Darrel Olson said demographers from the League of Minnesota Cities and the Little Falls-based Initiative Foundation have estimated Baxter will double in size by 2030.
"It's good news to see the growth, but it also will require a lot more diligence in planning," Olson said. "It's going to be important to plan ahead and be ready for that."
With issues of wastewater treatment plant expansion resolved with the city of Brainerd, Olson said long-range planning continues to be important particularly in regard to the road system and traffic - both for those passing through the city and residents.
Brainerd City Planner Mark Ostgarden said the numbers don't tell him a lot at this point. Ostgarden said he is waiting for more detailed information coming with the 2010 census versus estimated population numbers based on formulas.
With the downturn in the economy, Ostgarden said it's unknown what effect that will have. People may need to leave the area for work or be unable to maintain homes here.
"There are just a lot of variables that I think are important when trying to determine population," Ostgarden said.
The Census Bureau developed the numbers by using housing unit estimates, which use building permits, estimates of construction where no building permits are reported, mobile home shipments and estimates of housing unit loss to update housing unit change since the last census. The Census Bureau multiplies the occupancy rate and average persons per household from the latest census by the estimate of housing units.
Minnesota's population increased by 38,000 in 2008 to 5.22 million. The top 10 cities by population are Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington, Plymouth, Brooklyn Park, St. Cloud, Eagan and Coon Rapids.
The cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth and Bloomington all increased at least a little.
The fastest growing cities from 2007 to 2008 included Otsego, Hugo, Victoria and Waconia, which all grew by at least 3.5 percent since 2007. The Census Bureau reports many of the cities with sizable populations that shrank are in southern Minnesota, including Albert Lea, New Ulm, Waseca, Fairmont and Austin.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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