Le Mars population estimate rises

By the numbers, Le Mars leads the county in population growth since 2007, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau last week.

However, Hinton, which showed little population change in the past year, actually shows a larger population increase since 2000.

While most reports involving numbers for the year have been dour thanks to economic struggles, when it comes to population, a positive trend stretches across Iowa.

The state's population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, rose 2.6 percent since 2000 to hover at just more than 3 million.

The bureau's recent report on cities estimated Le Mars' population, as of July 1, 2008, to be 9,127.

That number is an increase of 13 people from 2007, a change of close to 1 percent.

Le Mars' population has mostly in same neighborhood since 2002, but the current population estimate shows a 2 percent drop since 2000's population count at 9,237.

Kingsley, estimated population 1,241, saw an increase of seven people to bring the population near the 1,245 population seen in 2000.

That increase is close to .6 percent.

Hinton, though a smaller community, showed a higher percent of long-term growth than other Plymouth County cities.

With 847 people according to the recent population estimates, Hinton's numbers hovered near last year's estimate -- 848 people -- but has steadily increased since the 2000 census which put Hinton's population at 808 people.

The growth marks a 5 percent increase since that census.

Other communities in the counties showed estimated population shrinkage.

*Akron, with an estimated population of 1,420, fell by seven from 2007-08, part of a gradual decrease since the 2000 census when the population came in at 1,489.

*Merrill's estimated population declined by seven people to 739 in the report. In 2000, the town's population was reported as 754, but the 10-year high was in 2004 with an estimated population of 772 people.

*Remsen saw a 6 percent drop from 1,762 in the 2000 census to an estimated 2008 population of 1,654.

*Westfield also saw a 6 percent drop to the 2008 estimated population of 178, which came it at 11 people less than 2000's census numbers.

The Associated Press reported that urban areas like Waukee, just west of Des Moines, and Ankeny, grew the most since 2000's census.

Waukee grew more than 140 percent to 12,367.

However, Sioux City dropped 3 percent of its population, falling by more than 2,200 people to 82,807, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's estimates.

Other large Iowa cities that lost population since 2000 include Des Moines, Dubuque and Waterloo.

The next full census will be held in 2010.