Flathead, Gallatin growth leads state

The Daily Inter Lake

The pace of growth in Flathead County is accelerating, according to recently released figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.

As of July 1, 2006, the county's population was 85,314 - up 2,235 people, or 2.7 percent, from the previous year. That was the largest annual percentage increase and numerical increase since the 2000 census.

Overall, the Flathead's population has jumped by almost 11,000 people since 2000, an average rate of 2.4 percent a year. That's the second-highest increase in Montana after Gallatin County, which has added more than 15,000 people.

Together, Flathead and Gallatin counties account for almost two-thirds of the total net population growth in Montana during the past six years. The census figures indicate that the state has added 42,437 people since 2000, rising from 902,195 to 944,632.

By contrast, a couple of the larger counties continue to lose population.

Cascade County, for example, dropped from 79,490 people in 2005 to 79,385 in 2006. Its 2000 census population was 80,357.

The population of Butte-Silver Bow County has dropped more than 5 percent during the past six years, dipping to 32,801 in 2006.

Yellowstone County continues to be the largest county in Montana, by a sizable margin. Its population of 138,213 is 36 percent higher than Missoula's, and it's growing at a faster pace.

Lake County's population reached 28,606 in 2006, up 1.2 percent from the previous year and 7.9 percent since 2000. Lincoln County has seen a net increase of 389 people in the past six years, rising to 19,226.

On the 'Net: http://ceic.mt.gov/