Census: Area's population down 5.6 percent

Dickinson County remains on track to demonstrate growth when the official census data is collected in 2010. Other counties may see substantial population losses if the most recent census estimates hold true.

Numbers in the Iowa Great Lakes region grew by 2.1 percent between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2008. The census estimated, in its annual report on population growth, that the county now has 16,775 residents, up 351 from a total of 16,424 at the start of decade.

Clay County continued to show a loss in the latest estimate update, though the exodus appeared to be leveling off. The county is still down 3.9 percent from 2000, which matches the percentage decrease in the same set of numbers last year. The population is down 681 from 17,372 in 2000 to 16,691 in the latest estimates.

The estimate counted 1,707 births and 1,475 deaths in Clay County for a 232 person gain. People moved away from Clay County in greater numbers than arriving residents, causing the overall population loss.

The official count is still a year away. Because of the lag behind other states, Iowa is expected to lose a congressional seat after the 2010 census, slipping from five to four representatives in the U.S. House.

Overall, Buena Vista County still has the highest population in the nine-county region, according to the new estimates. The bureau's count of 19,702 for Buena Vista County is down 3.5 percent from 20,411 residents in 2000.

Iowa's population increased by 2.6 percent or 76,174 residents since April 2000. The state's population is estimated at 3,002,555.

Smaller Iowa counties that are not within driving distance of big cities continued to see population decreases and 75 of Iowa's 99 counties lost people.

Audubon, Ida and Pocahontas counties posted the largest percentage losses. In all three counties, deaths outnumbered births during the eight-year period, and more people moved out than moved in.

Cherokee saw the fourth most significant loss of Iowa's 99 counties with a 11.4 percent decline in population.

Dallas County near Des Moines is the fastest growing county in the state with a 47 percent growth since 2000. Johnson County was a distant second, with 15.4 percent growth.

Polk County, Iowa's most populous county is third and grew by an estimated 13.4 percent from 2000 to 2008 for a population of 424,778.

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