Blog Post
Insight: Population Growth at Point of the Mountain Portends Merged Metro Area
By: Pamela Perlich, Ph.D.
New estimates recently released by the Bureau of the Census indicate that population growth in the state continues to be concentrated in its two largest counties, particularly in southern and western Salt Lake County and northern and central Utah County. Further, the annual amount of population growth in Utah County is approaching that of the much larger Salt Lake County. This provides further evidence of the merging of the two largest counties into a more integrated metropolitan region.
Top 10 Absolute Population Growth by Place
Utah County added an estimated 13,671 residents from July 1, 2014 to July 1, 2015 to reach 575,205. Of this increase, 9,839 or 72 percent, is attributable to natural increase (births exceeding deaths) with the balance being net in-migration of 3,564. In comparison, Salt Lake County added 14,426 residents to reach 1,107,314, with 83 percent (12,011) coming from natural increase and 2,709 from net in-migration.
South Jordan added 3,797 people between July 2014 and July 2015 to reach 66,648, the largest addition to any Utah city. Its growth rate of six percent was the fifth most rapid growth rate nationally among places with populations of at least 50,000. Other places in Utah with the largest increases in population over the estimates period were Orem (2,581), Vineyard (2,578), Herriman (2,203), and Lehi (2,171). Vineyard has emerged as an instant city, with population reaching an estimated 3,195 in 2015, a significant increase from a mere 139 in 2010. Rounding out the top ten places for absolute population growth are St. George (1,735), Layton (1,672), West Valley (1,649), Sandy (1,373), and Eagle Mountain (1,191).
Salt Lake City continues to be the most populous city in Utah with an estimated population of 192,672 in 2015. West Valley maintains its rank as the state’s second most populous city with an estimated 136,208 people. Next is Provo (115,264), followed by West Jordan (111,946), and Orem (94,457).
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute has prepared a detailed fact sheet on the county and place estimates, which is available here. The data set is available here. Information on methodology is here.
Dr. Pamela Perlich is the director of demographic research at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.