Jamestown drops a place in N.D. population ranking

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Jamestown is no longer the seventh-largest city in North Dakota.

According to the latest census data, Jamestown’s population was 15,427 as of April 2010, when the count was made. The number is an increase from the 2009 estimate of 14,687 but a decrease of 100 people from the 2000 census of 15,527. This marks a 0.6 percent decline.

The decline in Jamestown population coupled with an increase in West Fargo’s population. That dropped James-town from No. 7 to No. 8 in North Dakota population ranking.

The figures were released by the U.S. Census Bureau Wednesday for use in redistricting political boundaries. The data show an increase in population in Jamestown and Stutsman County compared to the estimated population of 2009 but a decline from the last actual count in 2000.

Stutsman County’s population is listed as 21,100, an increase from the 2009 estimate of 20,463 but a 3.7 percent decline from the 2000 count of 21,908 people.

The decline in Stutsman County population combined with an increase in Williams County’s population dropped the county from its previous No. 7 spot to No. 8.

“We don’t have the Oil Patch and there is no Red River Valley Tech Corridor here,” said Connie Ova, chief executive officer, Jamestown/ Stutsman Development Corp. “That does put us at a disadvantage.”

Ova said population issues will continue to be a topic for strategic planning for the JSDC.

North Dakota’s total population grew 4.7 percent, with the population increasing from 642,200 in 2000 to 672,591 in 2010.

Cass County saw the largest increase in population and remains the largest population in the state with a 21.6 percent increase to 149,778. Burleigh County is second with a 17.1 percent increase to a population of 81,308.

The top four cities based on population remain Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot, in that order. Fargo saw a 16.5 percent increase to 105,549. West Fargo saw a 72.9 percent increase in population and moved from the eighth highest population to the fifth highest population at 25,830.

Jamestown was the largest city in North Dakota to show a population decline in the decade from 2000 to 2010. Stutsman County was the largest county to show a decline.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at (701) 952-8452 or by e-mail at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, census, population