News Release
August 31, 2007

UW extension publication describes moderate population growth in Wyoming

Wyoming’s population growth from 2000-2005 leveled out at about 3 percent after the peaks and valleys from 1970 to 2000, according to a new publication available from the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (UW CES).

The growth rate was approximately 3 percent, according to 2005 census data.

The data show a faster increase in numbers in rural areas based on growth rates but nearly even growth between urban and rural areas based on overall changes in population, according to David “Tex” Taylor, professor and community development specialist in Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the College of Agriculture.

Population Change in Wyoming: 2000-2005, B-1179, is available for free download at http://ces.uwyo.edu/economic.htm under Economic Development. It is a collaboration of the agriculture economics department, the William D. Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center and the UW CES.

The publication examines population change by cities and towns, county, and rural and urban areas.

Wyoming’s growth rate increased 50 percent between 1970 and 1983 and then decreased more than 10 percent from 1983 to 1990. The population grew more than 8 percent from 1990 to 2000.

Understanding growth pressure brought about by changing populations is a key to effective community planning, the authors stated. Sublette County, where a natural gas boom is occurring, had the highest growth rate at 17 percent, comparable to the fastest-growing states in the nation and behind only Nevada’s 20.8 percent growth during the five-year period.

Campbell County, which is also experiencing an energy boom, had the second-highest growth rate in the state at 11 percent.

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Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor
Phone: (307) 766-6342
E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu
Archived News Site http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/UWAG/news.asp

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