City grows slightly in '03 after readjustment

Carson City grew slightly to 55,220 this year - adding 376 residents - but not without an adjustment of figures that initially indicated the capital was shrinking.

The state will release official population estimates Monday. Preliminary numbers show Nevada's population grew by 4.1 percent to an estimated 2,295,391, and it is still the nation's fastest-growing state.

State Demographer Jeff Hardcastle said Tuesday some counties questioned the figures first released in October and have appealed to his office for a reassessment. State estimates will be released after final numbers are reached between the state and counties at the end of the week, Hardcastle said.

Initial counts ending July 1 showed Carson City's population had decreased slightly from 54,844 to 54,671, a decline of .3 percent. After going over the numbers with state officials, the estimate was adjusted to reflect a .6 percent increase. The officials looked at differences in housing unit counts and school enrollment to determine final numbers.

The adjustment was key for the city to capture its share of state gas tax revenue and other revenue disbursements, said City Manager Linda Ritter.

"Population is a very important number for us. "We didn't have to file a formal appeal. When we got the final number we felt very comfortable with it."

Since 1986, Carson City has grown by an estimated 18,880 residents, according to the state demographer's office.

October's preliminary numbers showed Lyon County - at 6.4 percent - to be the state's fastest-growing county, with 41,244 residents.

Douglas County's population grew by 1,391 to 45,603, a 3 percent gain. Gardnerville welcomed an estimated 251 new residents, while Minden brought in 50 new people and Genoa grew by 2, according to October estimates.

Washoe County also grew 3.8 percent to 373,233 with initial counts. Reno was estimated to be home to 195,727 residents, while 78,435 people lived in Sparks. Clark County showed a growth rate of 4.6 percent, topping out a population of 1,620,748.

Compared nationally between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2003, Nevada is the fastest growing state at 12.2 percent, according to the Census Bureau. Other states with substantial increases were Arizona (8.8 percent), Florida (6.5 percent), Georgia (6.1 percent), Texas (6.1 percent) and Colorado (5.8 percent).

The only state to record a loss for the period was North Dakota, which estimated a decrease of 8,363 to 633,837 people..

According to the Census Bureau information released Tuesday, the U.S. population will be 292,287,454 on Jan. 1, up 1 percent over the year. The total is an increase of 2,816,586 from the same date in 2003.

The Bureau said that as of January the United States will be recording a birth every 8 seconds, a death every 13 seconds and adding an immigrant every 25 seconds. The result is an increase of one person every 12 seconds.

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217. The Associated Press contributed to this report.