Sequim remains the fastest-growing city on the North Olympic Peninsula, while growth has leveled off both regionally and statewide during the past year, the latest state population estimates say.
Sequim’s population April 1 was 5,715, said the state Office of Financial Management, which released its annual report Tuesday.
That’s 105 more inhabitants than Sequim had in 2008.
Since 2000, Sequim has gained 1,381 residents — ranking No. 68 in growth out of 279 cities in the state.
Port Angeles gained 90 residents over the past year for an April 1 population of 19,260. The city ranks No. 47 in size.
The 2000 population for Port Angeles was 18,397.
Port Townsend lost 30 residents over the past year and has gained 561 this decade. Its population had dipped slightly to 8,895 by April 1.
Forks remained virtually unchanged, with 20 fewer residents in 2009 than in 2008, and a growth of 65 inhabitants since 2000.
The state’s official population estimate for 2009 is 6,668,200.
Clallam County’s population rose from 69,200 in 2008 to 69,500 in 2009. Over the decade, the county gained 5,321 residents for a growth of 8.3 percent.
Jefferson County’s population rose from 28,800 in 2008 to 29,000 in 2009. Since 2000, Jefferson County has gained 2,701 inhabitants, or 10.3 percent.
The total population of both counties was estimated at 98,500.
Decade: growth steady
Both counties and all four cities have shown slow but steady growth this decade, with Sequim leading the pack.
Neither county ranked in the top 15 of Washington state’s 39 counties in the decade-long growth rate. Jefferson County ranked No. 16 in that department, while Clallam was the 24th fastest-growing county since 2000.
State officials say Washington is growing, but at a slower rate than just a few years ago.
Chief demographer Theresa Lowe said the population grew by about 1.2 percent from last year. The most recent yearly peak was in 2006, at 1.9 percent. Lowe said the economic downturn is one of the factors crimping migration to the state.
“The continued housing contraction nationwide and poor economic conditions appear to be limiting the mobility of the population usually influenced by labor market opportunities,” Lowe said.
“Many job seekers are finding it difficult to sell their homes or to relocate to accept employment at the price of paying two mortgages for an extended period.”
Most of the population growth since the 2000 census has been concentrated in Western Washington. King, Pierce, Snohomish and Clark counties have posted the biggest gains in those nine years.
The fastest-growing counties on a percentage basis since 2000 are Franklin (47.3 percent), Clark (24.9 percent), Thurston (20.5 percent) and Kittitas (19.6 percent).
The next U.S. census will be conducted in 2010.
Cities use the U.S. census data when applying for federal grants.
The two government entities collect data at different times of the year.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
