Demographics
The Gardner Institute provides demographic decision support to the Utah State Legislature and Office of the Governor. We produce population estimates and projections, as well as applied demographic research focused on Utah. We represent the state in work with the Census Bureau, including the State Data Center Program and Federal State Cooperatives for Population Estimates and Projections. We work with the Census Bureau in production, distribution, and analysis of their product.
We are your demographic resource.
Fact Sheet: U.S. Census Bureau Estimates by County, Metropolitan, and Micropolitan Areas, 2019
Each year, the Census Bureau produces population estimates at varying levels of geography. The Census Bureau’s most recent release on March 26, 2020, provides population estimates with components of population change for counties, metropolitan areas, and micropolitan areas in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Insight: How might COVID-19 affect Utah’s Population Growth?
By: Mike Hollingshaus Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™. Mar 24, 2020 – COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is challenging Utah’s individuals, families, and institutions. Following the guidance of our public health experts should help alleviate harm. In the meantime, we must still prepare for our states’ future operations while coping with near term disruptions. This leads us to wondering: How[...]
Insight: Utah’s Future: The Long View
By: Pamela Perlich Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™. Mar 12, 2020 – We are still in the early stages of understanding and responding to the public health, economic, and personal impacts of the coronavirus COVID-19 in Utah. It is becoming clear that, in the short run, these events will challenge our institutions and people by disrupting economic activity, straining public health resources, and[...]
Race/Ethnicity in the 2018 Wasatch Front Labor Force: An Equal Employment Opportunity Analysis
Current data reveals 1 in 5 Utahns identify as racial minorities, rising 3.8% from 2017 to 2018.1 This is more rapid than the comparable 1.9% year-over growth rate of the total population. Racial and ethnic diversity continues to increase across the nation and in Utah. The extent of this diversity varies significantly by neighborhood, community, and county. For example, minority identification in the Wasatch Front region is closer to 1 in 4 at 24%, while Salt Lake County is 29% minority.
Insight: Commuting Patterns in Utah, 2000 to 2010
By: Natalie Young Jan 22, 2020 – Today we release “Moving Toward 2020: Utah Commuting Patterns, 2000 to 2010,” which reviews home-to-work commuting patterns across the state from a county-level perspective. Understanding the status of commuting in 2010 prepares us for future analysis of the recently completed decade as more commuting data become available. […]
Moving Toward 2020: Utah Commuting Patterns, 2000 to 2010
As Utah’s population has grown and changed, housing developments, employment opportunities, and communities have expanded, and so have the commuting patterns of the employed workers who call Utah home. Analysis of recent county-to-county commuting data demonstrates that Salt Lake County remains the economic hub for the state, even as employment has expanded elsewhere in Utah. This finding is reinforced by an interchange score analysis which quantifies the strength of commuting relationships between partner counties across the state. The scores reveal that while Salt Lake County has several strong commuting partners, important commuting ties are also present in other parts of[...]
Insight: Utah Leads the Nation in Population Growth, 2010 – 2019
By: Pamela Perlich Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™. Dec 31, 2019 – I moved to Utah in 1986 when the state population was 1.7 million, just over half the 3.2 million population of today. Having experienced and studied this growth for over three decades, I can tell you that present-day Utah is not simply a twice-as-large version of its former self. This growth[...]
Fact Sheet: U.S. Census Bureau 2014-2018 5-Year American Community Survey Estimates
Today marks the release of the 2014-2018 5-Year American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates. The ACS is an ongoing survey that provides information on social, demographic, and economic characteristics of communities. The ACS began in 2008 and replaced the Census Long Form in 2010. Each year, the Census Bureau provides a new update to both the 1 and 5 Year Estimates. This is the second release shared on the new data.census.gov platform.
Insight: Time to celebrate! New data from the American Community Survey
By: Mallory Bateman Dec 19, 2019 – Today marks the release of the 2014-2018 5-Year American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates. The ACS is an ongoing survey that provides information on social, demographic, and economic characteristics of communities. The ACS began in 2008 and replaced the Census Long Form in 2010. Each year, we receive a new update to both the 1 and 5-Year Estimates. This is the second release shared on the new data.census.gov platform. […]
Insight: Utah’s fertility rate falls below replacement level for the first time — but there’s more to the story
By: Natalie Gochnour Originally published in the Deseret News. Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™. Dec 11, 2019 – Last week the National Center for Health Statistics released final birth data for 2018. The verdict is in. Utah’s total fertility rate dropped for the eleventh consecutive year and, for the first time, dropped below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman. Utah’s fertility[...]