Oregon adds 45,620 new residents in past year
Portland Business Journal
Oregon’s population increased from 3,745,455 in 2007 to 3,791,075 in 2008, or by 45,620, according to the latest preliminary July 1 population estimates released by Portland State University’s Population Research Center.
The center reported that most of the state’s population growth in the past year was due to migration, with an estimate of about 27,700 migrants moving into the state. The number is estimated to be approximately 10,000 lower than the previous year.
Data indicate that almost 40 percent of the state’s growth was accounted for by natural increase, with about 18,000 more births than deaths. While close to the numbers in the early 1990s, the natural increase is the highest that Oregon has experienced in more than 20 years, the center reported.
The rate of change in state population is estimated to have decreased from 1.5 percent during 2006-2007 to 1.2 percent during 2007-2008, a steeper annual decline than last year. The continued slowing of Oregon’s economic growth appears to have decelerated, and Oregon’s total population growth rate is approaching levels seen five to seven years ago.
Population growth in three counties accounted for one-half of the state’s overall population change from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008. In the Portland metropolitan area, Washington County is estimated to have added 8,850 persons and Multnomah County 7,855. Deschutes County in central Oregon had an increase of 6,205. Clackamas County ranked fourth in population growth, adding 4,400 people, followed by Marion County, with a population gain of 3,800.
The two fastest growing counties, in terms of percent change from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, are the same as last year and the year before. They are the neighboring Deschutes and Crook Counties, with an estimated population increase of 3.9 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively.
The population of Oregon’s cities and towns is estimated to have gained approximately 31,000 from 2007 to 2008, to reach a combined 2008 total of 2,641,410. Cities and towns capture about 70 percent of the state’s population, about the same as last year, and account for 68 percent of Oregon’s population increase. Approximately 2 percent of the increase in Oregon’s cities and towns population was due to annexations.
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