Idaho showing shifting citizens

The steady shift of Idaho’s population from smaller to larger counties continued between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015, according to estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The state’s overall 1.2 percent population increase was concentrated in the six urban counties of Ada, Canyon, Kootenai, Bonneville, Bannock and Twin Falls, accounting for 90 percent of the growth and 65 percent of overall population.

Boise County had the highest percentage gain at 3.4 percent. In all, 29 counties showed an increase in population ranging from 7,364 in Ada County to just one in Owyhee County.

Fifteen counties experienced a decrease in population ranging from five in Adams County to 386 in Elmore County. Butte County lost the highest percentage of population at 4.2 percent.

Net migration — difference between number of people moving into and out of an area — accounted for 0.5 percent of total population increase. More people moved into 22 counties than moved out, adding 12,908 people, and 22 counties experienced a decrease in net migration for an overall gain of just more than 9,000.

Four of Idaho’s 15 counties that experienced net migration of 0.5 percent or more are some of the largest; Boise County, within commuting distance of Ada County, gained the most at 3.6 percent. The largest negative percent of net population migration was in Butte County at minus-4.5 percent.

Natural increase — births minus deaths — is the other major component in population change. Statewide there were 22,751 births between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015, and 11,826 deaths resulting in a gain of 10,915 people. Ada County reported the largest number of births at 5,128, and deaths at 2,636, for a net gain of 2,492 people.

Camas County had the smallest number of births, numbering eight, and the fewest deaths at four, for a net gain of four people. There were four counties that had a natural increase of more than 1,000: Ada, Canyon, Bonneville and Madison counties. Six counties experienced a loss — Benewah, Clearwater, Idaho, Lemhi and Shoshone counties.