While the rest of the Plymouth County cities are looking at estimated drops in population, a recent report by the U.S. Census bureau shows Hinton and Kingsley to likely have a growing population.

According to the 2007 population estimate report released last week, Hinton's population grew to an estimated 845 in one year, an increase of about eight people, or 1 percent, from 2006.

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"We've built about half a dozen residences in the last year or so," said Hinton mayor Gary Fischer. "We're actually out of lots in town -- we have one or two empty lots -- but there is land available for development."

Kingsley's population grew an estimated five people to 1,234 in the same year.

The southern Plymouth County city of Hinton has boasted a growing population, at least according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, since 2003, when their population was roughly 810.

Kingsley, also in southern Plymouth County has shown estimated growth since 2005, when their population was 1,225.

Le Mars' population fell by about 42 people to 9,185, according to the 2007 estimate. Less than one-half a percent, that drop brings the city back to similar population numbers from 2001-2003.

Merrill, Remsen, Westfield, Craig and Struble's populations decreased according to the estimates by about 1 percent.

Akron's population fell less than 1 percent, according to the estimate report.

While Plymouth County's population estimate dropped by about one-half a percent in 2007, Iowa's population grew an estimated 15,480 to 2,988,046 in 2007, an increase of approximately one-half a percent.

The U.S. Census Bureau's population estimates for cities begins with the county population estimates, according to Greg Harper, a demographer with the bureau.

County estimates are determined by reviewing birth and death data from each county, measuring internal migration via addresses on tax returns and measuring international migration.

"Then we distribute that population to the cities based on housing units, building permits, mobile home permits," Harper said. "A place that has a lot of construction going on will receive a greater share of the county's population than places not adding a lot of construction."

The population reports, he said, take about one year to complete.