OLMIS

by Dallas Fridley
Published Jan-29-2013

Portland State University's Population Research Center recently released 2012 certified population estimates for Oregon, its counties and cities. At the state level, Oregon's population rose by just 0.7 percent in 2012, adding 28,110 residents to total nearly 3.9 million.

In the Mid-Columbia region, Gilliam and Hood River counties grew faster than the state in 2012. Gilliam County rose by 20 residents, or 1.1 percent, to total 1,900, while Hood River County gained 250 residents to total 22,875, an increase of 1.1 percent. Wasco County's population rose in step with Oregon's 0.7 percent gain in 2012, adding 185 residents to total 25,485. Sherman County held firm in 2012 with 1,765 residents. Wheeler County lost residents, falling by 10 in 2012 to total 1,425, a loss of 0.7 percent.

In the Columbia Basin region, Umatilla County matched Oregon's growth in 2012, rising by 0.7 percent to total 77,120 with an additional 540 residents. Morrow County fell short of Oregon's population gain, rising by just 30 residents, or 0.3 percent, to total 11,300.

A Hood River County resident was more likely to live in an unincorporated area than a city or town. The City of Hood River's population totaled 7,375 in 2012, just less than one-third of the County's 2012 total. Cascade Locks was home to 1,190 residents in 2012, a little over 5 percent of Hood River County's total population. Unincorporated areas provided a home address for the vast majority of the Hood River County's residents, with 14,310, or around 63 percent, going rural-ish.

In Wasco County, the City of The Dalles was the dominant population center in 2012, with 14,440 residents or about 57 percent of the county total. Its next largest city, Dufur, was home to 605 residents in 2012, just 2.4 percent of Wasco County's population total. The population total for unincorporated areas in Wasco County totaled 9,495 in 2012, about 37 percent of the county total.

Despite the primarily rural nature of Gilliam, Sherman and Wheeler counties, their respective unincorporated areas did not outnumber residents of cities and towns. In Wheeler County, its unincorporated areas were home to about 46 percent or 660 residents in 2012, while Fossil, its largest city, was the residence for 475 residents or one-third of the county total. Gilliam County had four incorporated cities and towns in 2012, with Condon ranking first for its 695 residents, about 37 percent of the county's population total. Unincorporated areas in Gilliam County were the home address for just 32 percent of its residents, the lowest share for any Mid-Columbia county. Sherman County's unincorporated areas represented about 35 percent of its 2012 population total with 610 residents. Sherman County's largest city was Wasco, with a population total of 410 residents in 2012, around 23 percent of the county's total.

Boardman was the largest of five incorporated towns and cities in Morrow County, with 3,325 residents in 2012, around 29 percent of the county's population total. Irrigon, population 1,830, was home to about 16 percent of Morrow County's residents in 2012 and Heppner, population 1,290, represented around 11 percent. Unincorporated areas outnumbered the total for Boardman, with 4,375 residents going rural, close to 39 percent of Morrow County's 2012 population total.

Umatilla County had 12 incorporated cities and towns in 2012, with its smallest, Helix, providing a home address for 190 residents. Hermiston was the largest city in Umatilla County - but just barely - with 16,995 residents or 22 percent of the county's 2012 population total. Pendleton's 2012 population total was a very close second to Hermiston's, with 16,715 residents. Unincorporated areas provided a home address for a significant number of Umatilla County's residents in 2012, with 22,470 or about 29 percent of the county's total.