OLMIS

by Guy Tauer
Published Jan-30-2013

In mid-December, Portland State University's Population Research Center certified new estimates for state, county, and city populations across Oregon. The latest numbers convey estimates as of July 1, 2012.

Table 1 on the next page shows the new population estimates for all of this region's counties and cities, along with 2011 and 2010 statistics for comparison.

According to PSU's calculations, Oregon's population increased by 26,110, or 0.7 percent, from 2011 to 2012. That's a little more statewide population growth than in each of the previous two years, but generally less growth than we experienced annually in the two decades before that.

From 2011 to 2012, the Rogue Valley's population growth lagged behind the statewide trends. Jackson County gained just 680 new residents, a growth rate of 0.3 percent. Only 14 counties saw slower population growth than Jackson County over the year. One of those counties was Josephine, which actually lost population from July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2012. Josephine County's population fell by 45 residents, or a decline of 0.1 percent. Only five other counties had a larger percentage drop than Josephine County. Washington County posted the fastest gain, up by 1.2 percent, gaining 6,475 residents.

According to Marple's Northwest Business Letter, January 23, 2013, "Population remains an important indicator, and its growth provides another barometer of a state's (or county/city's) economic health."