County likely up in Census count

SANDPOINT — The precise numbers won’t be available until next year, but Bonner County likely contributed to the population boost that made Idaho one of the nation’s fastest growing states.

Idaho Department of Labor Chief Researcher Bob Uhlenkott indicated that Bonner County was probably no exception to the statewide increase of 21.1 percent. And according to Uhlenkott, that’s good news for Idaho businesses.

“Economically speaking, all growth is really positive growth,” he said.

Uhlenkott attributed much of the state’s growth to newcomers as opposed to escalating birth rates. He said that retirees are finding Idaho’s natural beauty and recreational opportunities increasingly appealing and consequently are rapidly driving up the state’s nationally low age average.

“The joke around here is that Idaho has always been a young state, but now we’re aging very quickly,” he said.

The same factors that make the Idaho a popular retirement location apply to Bonner County. And with a statewide drop in average home values, Uhlenkott said prospective residents are finding the move a less frightening proposition. 

“Usually in a recession, people hunker down and stay put,” he said. “So I really see the home value drop in Idaho as a healthy thing for the state economy.”

Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Kate McAlister agreed that a migratory seniors mean good news for local businesses.

“When it comes to retirees moving into the area, we do hope that they have a little more disposable income,” she said.

Although Idaho is still only 40th in overall population, it ranked fourth in the nation in population growth, adding 273,629 residents to a total of 1,567,582. Only Nevada (35.1 percent), Arizona (24.6 percent) and Utah (23.8 percent) beat out the Gem State in overall growth.

On a national scale, the U.S. population increased by 27,323,632, representing a 9.7 percent growth. More than double the national average, Idaho’s expansion won’t earn it a new seat in the U.S. House of Representatives like Nevada, Utah and Washington. But it does maintain the state’s knack for growth spurts, a reputation established when the 2000 Census reported a 28.5 percent increase from 1990.

“I think it’s really exciting,” McAlister said. “It’s great people are seeing that life is just a little bit better here.”