Sandpoint lauded as ‘dynamic micropolitan’
In a recent report by Heartland Forward, the Sandpoint Micropolitan Area ranked No. 19 out of 527 in an analysis of several economic factors.
Photo by ERIC WELCH
SANDPOINT — In an economic analysis of 527 micropolitan areas nationwide, Sandpoint ranked within the top 4%.
On Aug. 27, Heartland Forward — a Bentonville, Ark., based nonprofit think tank — published “Most Dynamic Micropolitans 2024,” a report exploring the state of small cities across the county.
Included in the report was a list of the “top 25 micropolitan areas,” which featured the Idaho cities of Hailey (No. 10), Sandpoint (No. 19), and Rexburg (No. 21).
Heartland Forward defined micropolitan areas as counties with a core city that has a population of 10,000-50,000 and that are not part of a larger metropolitan area.
The organization ranked the areas using a composite of metrics including employment, per-capita income, and proportion of employment at firms five years old or less.
Data was primarily sourced from the 2022 statistics put out by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Heartland Forward describes itself as non-partisan and aims to promote economic development in Middle America.
The organization is funded by private donations; past financial support has come from groups including the Walton Family Foundation — a philanthropic entity launched by Walmart founder Sam Walton.
Sandpoint’s top 20 placement can be attributed to its high 2017-2022 employment growth of 13.8% and its 18% employment share at firms five years old or less.
Of the top 50 micropolitans, however, Sandpoint ranked No. 39 for per capita personal income.
The No. 19 overall ranking represents a consistent placement for Sandpoint. The 2022 edition of the report, which primarily used 2020 federal data, placed Sandpoint at No. 17.
In addition to ranking micropolitans, Heartland Forward shed light on the unique position of small U.S. cities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many urban areas continue to struggle with office vacancies due to an increase in remote work, more emphasis on quality of life and a resistance to commuting,” the report states. “Those same factors, however, have made micropolitan areas more attractive.”
At the same time, the organization warned of the risks of a one-dimensional economy for booming micropolitans.
“Unpredictable external shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic can topple any economy rather quickly, but micropolitan communities dependent upon a single industry are more vulnerable to boom-and-bust cycles,” the report states.
“It is vital for these smaller communities to explore new ways to nurture a diversified industrial base and an economy that runs 12 months of the year.”
The full “Most Dynamic Micropolitans 2024” report can be viewed by visiting https://bit.ly/3Z3siyE.