Idaho’s population growing, shifting

Idaho’s population is growing, especially in the state’s urban areas, as people from the smaller counties are moving to those areas.

The state’s overall population increased by 20,124 people, which is 1.2 percent, between July 2014 to July 2015. That increase was concentrated in the state’s six urban counties: Ada, Bannock, Bonneville, Canyon, Kootenai and Twin Falls. Those counties make up 90 percent of the growth and 65 percent of the overall population.

Chris St. Jeor, a regional economist for the Idaho Department of Labor, said jobs play into this.

“That’s where a lot of the strong job growth is taking place, and that’s what’s luring them to say a place like a Bonneville County over a Bingham County,” he said. “That’s where the jobs are, and they’re not wanting the 30 minute commute or whatever it may be. “