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Thursday, July 13, 2006
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Up or down? Stats conflict on Brainerd's population Senior Reporter
Most counties grow
All area counties grew a little between the U.S. Census markers of July 2004 and July 2005, with the exception of Todd County which lost 32 residents for a population of 24,603 last year. Mille Lacs County had the highest percentage growth with 2.7 percent. Crow Wing County had 1.2 percent growth but grew by the greatest number of people, 721.
Aitkin County grew by 200 people for a total of 16,174.
Cass County grew by 453 for a total of 28,910.
Crow Wing County grew by 721 for a total of 59,917.
Mille Lacs County grew by 686 to 25,680.
Morrison County grew by 197 to 32,788.
Wadena County grew by 40 to 13,650.
Several Minnesota counties, with 10,000 or more residents, were listed in the 100 fastest-growing in the nation. Scott County was in the top 20 fastest-growing counties in the nation. Other Minnesota counties in the top 100 were Sherburne, Wright, Carver, Isanti and Chisago.
All the top 100 fastest-growing counties experienced a population growth of 20 percent or more between 2000 and 2005.
How did our cities grow?
Of the other area cities, Breezy Point grew the most with 123 residents, raising the city's population to 1,496 in 2005.
Expected growth areas such as Crosslake have not changed dramatically yet, gaining just 14 people for a total population of 2,039 in 2005.
In many other area cities, the changes were subtle - a slight drop or gain, or no change at all between 2004-2005.
Aitkin: 2,000-1,997.
Backus: 314-319.
Cass Lake: 861-867.
Chickamaw Beach: 147-150.
Crosby: 2,252-2,222.
Cuyuna: 259-268.
Deerwood: 584-575.
East Gull Lake: 1,046-1,077.
Emily: 941-949.
Fifty Lakes: 412-412.
Fort Ripley: 72-71.
Garrison: 222-218.
Hackensack: 300-305.
Ironton: 544-540.
Jenkins: 333-340.
Lake Shore: 1,075-1,102.
Little Falls: 8,167-8,139.
McGregor: 400-399.
Manhattan Beach: 51-52.
Motley: 671-667.
Nisswa: 2,057-2,068.
Onamia: 903-916.
Palisade: 119-119.
Pequot Lakes: 1,844-1,874.
Pierz: 1,272-1,316.
Pillager: 471-480.
Pine River: 947-958.
Randall: 633-627.
Riverton: 110-108.
Staples: 3,089-3,121.
Trommald: 127-128.
Verndale: 559-554.
Wadena: 4,129-4,107.
Walker: 1,146-1,170.
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Baxter's population increased by about 339 people between July 2004 and July 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's recent update.
But whether Brainerd's population rose or fell depends on who you talk to. The Census Bureau reports Brainerd population dropped slightly in the past two years by 38 people in 2004 and by 68 in 2005. That came after gaining 124 residents the previous two years.
But the Minnesota State Demographer's office is releasing information later this month that is expected to show Brainerd's population increased by 165 residents between 2004 and 2005.
The census data lists Brainerd's 2005 population at 13,684 and Baxter with 7,400 residents. The state demographer is expected to report Brainerd's population for 2005 at 13,849 and Baxter at 7,700. City officials from both cities got an early peek at those updated state numbers.
In 2001, Baxter's population was 5,930. In 2001, Brainerd had 13,666 residents.
The state demographer's office and the Census Bureau determine population estimates by considering building permits, but there are differences in the calculations - such as how they deal with demolitions.
The state demographer's office population estimates will be the ones used for local government aid calculations and other state programs.
Mark Ostgarden, Brainerd city planner, said the truth between the numbers may be somewhere in the middle. But Ostgarden said the population is increasing. New residential neighborhoods are being built within Brainerd's city limits, but Ostgarden said the information that isn't readily available via the census data is whether first-time homebuyers are moving in and leaving rental property, or existing homeowners are trading up or if new residents are moving here.
"It'd be interesting to have a survey from residents to see where they came from," Ostgarden said.
Baxter has steadily increased, with the addition of at least 300 residents each year since 2000.
Dennis Coryell, Baxter city administrator, said the city has grown about 4 percent a year since the end of the 1930s.
"Back then it would have been a small amount of people," he said. "Now it's considerably more."
How does the lakes area compare to other cities in outstate Minnesota?
In the region, the census data shows St. Cloud continues to grow steadily, gaining 841 people from 2004 to a 2005 population of 65,792. Duluth continued a trend of losing residents, dropping 479 people between 2004 and 2005 for a population of 84,896. Bemidji has steadily gained population, growing by 218 people between 2004 and 2005 for a population of 13,296.
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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