The Tri-Cities has been the fastest growing metropolitan area in the state since 2000 in percentage terms, according to new population estimates released 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.
Demograpphers 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.
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 38,838 in 2006.
In Western Washington, Olympia recorded a grown 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.
The fastest-growing metro area in the country was St. George, Utah, which grew 39.8 percent since 2000. Bend, Oregon 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.