Most of Idaho is growing, census says

There’s finally a list where the Treasure Valley didn’t rank first, but even No. 8 is pretty good. That’s the ranking the area reached in percentage metropolitan growth from 2017 to 2018, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boise metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which includes Meridian and Nampa, grew from 710,080 in July 2017 to 730,426 in July 2018, or a growth of 20,346 people or 2.9%, according to the census. That ranked it No. 80 in size and No. 26 in numerical growth, as well as No. 8 in percentage growth.

Midland, Texas, came in first with growth from 170,948 in 2017 to 178,331 in 2018, or 4.3% growth. Other cities in the top 10 included Myrtle Beach; St. George, Utah; Lakeland, Florida; Odessa, Texas; the Villages, Florida, and Greeley, Colorado. Cities in the top 10 after Boise were Bend, Oregon, and Provo-Orem, Utah. The Boise MSA was also the largest in population of the top 10 fastest-growing cities.

In Idaho counties, both the largest and the biggest change, by population, was Ada County, which grew from 456,885 to 469,966 — an increase of more than 13,000 people, or 2.9%. The biggest change by percent was Boise County, which grew from 7,355 to 7,634 — an increase of 279, or 3.8%. Statewide, in the same period, Idaho grew from 1,718,904 to 1,754,208, an increase of 35,304 or 2.1%.

Clark, the smallest Idaho county, in fact became even smaller, going from 885 to 852, or a loss of 33 people, or 3.7%, for the biggest loss in percentage. The biggest loss in number was Madison County, which went from 39,373 to 39,304, or a loss of 69 people.

Here are some other highlights from around the state:

• Coeur d’Alene grew from 157,485, to 161,505, an increase of 4,020 or 2.6%, ranking it No. 261 in the U.S., No. 97 in growth, and No. 11 in percentage growth, just out of the top 10.
• Idaho Falls grew from 145,792 to 148,904, an increase of 3,112 people or 2.1%, ranking it No. 285 in 2017, No. 281 for 2018, No. 116 in growth, and No. 20 in percentage growth.
• Lewiston grew from 62,881 to 63,018, an increase of 137, or 0.2%, ranking it No. 381 in population, No. 269 in growth, and No. 246 in percentage growth.
• Pocatello grew from 85,641 to 87,138, an increase of 1,497, or 1.7%, ranking it No. 369 in population, No. 180 in growth numbers, and No. 48 in percentage growth.
• Twin Falls grew from 109,037 to 110,096, an increase of 1,059 people, or 1.0%, ranking it No. 340 in 2017, No. 338 in 2018, No. 201 in numerical growth, and No. 120 in percentage growth.

Idaho’s smaller cities also grew as well. For example:

• Blackfoot, which grew from 45,904 to 46,236, an increase of 332 or 0.7%, ranking it No. 246 in 2017, No. 242 in 2018, No. 115 in numerical growth, and 116 in percentage growth.
• Burley, which grew from 44,493 to 44,689, an increase of 196 or 0.4%, ranking it No. 268 in 2017 and 2018, No. 160 in numerical growth, and No. 162 in percentage growth.
• Jackson, which though it is in Wyoming encompasses part of Idaho, which grew from 34,696 to 34,721, an increase of 25 people or 0.1%, ranking No. 382 in 2017, No. 385 in 2018, No. 258 in numerical growth, and No. 253 in percentage growth.
• Moscow, which grew from 39,714 to 40,134, an increase of 420 or 1.1%, which ranked it No. 314 in 2017, No. 311 in 2018, No. 87 in number and No. 66 in percent.
• Mountain Home, which grew from 26,800 to 27,259, an increase of 459 or 1.7%, ranking it No. 461 in 2017, No. 456 in 2018, No. 79 in numerical growth and No. 23 in percentage growth.
• Ontario, which though it is located in Oregon encompasses some of Idaho, which grew from 53,668 to 54,276, for an increase of 608 people or 1.1%, ranking it No. 186 in 2017, No. 182 in 2018, No. 57 in numerical growth and No. 59 in percentage growth.
• Rexburg, which declined from 52,488 to 52,472, a loss of 16 people, ranking it No. 191 in 2017, No. 193 in 2018, No. 282 in numeric growth and No. 279 in percentage growth.
• Sandpoint, which grew from 43,621 to 44,727, an increase of 1,106 people or 2.5%, ranking it No. 274 in 2017, No. 267 in 2018, No. 25 in numeric growth and No. 13 in percentage growth.

This article was updated to correct typographical errors.