Census: most of Idaho’s population growth in cities

Idaho’s city-based population grew by 30,312 people between mid-2015 and mid-2016. According to a new U.S. Census Bureau report released by the Idaho Department of Labor, 41 percent of the state’s growth was in the state’s seven largest cities including Boise, Meridian (95,623), Nampa (91,382), Idaho Falls (60,211), Pocatello (54,746), Caldwell (53,149), and Coeur d’Alene (50,285). Ada County accounts for 26 percent of the state’s total population and saw 35 percent of the state’s population gain in 2016. Meridian grew by 4.5 percent in 2016. It ranks 13th nationally for population growth. 26 Idaho cities had population ranging from 5,000 to 50,000, including places like Rexburg (28,222), Blackfoot (11,890), Ammon (15,252), and Chubbuck (14,644). Most of Idaho’s cities are classified as “small”. Those 167 cities have a population of less than 5,000 and range from 3 people in Warm River to 4,342 in Shelley. These cities accounted for only 9 percent of the state’s population and contributed only 6 percent to its growth. The largest percentage population decrease was a 3 percent decline in Spencer in Clark County, with a loss of one person, from 33 to 32. Warm River, in Fremont County, was the state’s smallest town. The largest city is Boise, with a population of 223,154. The total population of all Idaho cities is just over 1.2 million and accounts for 70 percent of the total state population. In 1990, only 62 percent of the population lived within an incorporated city. You can find specific information about your community here.