Washington County is growing - slowly

The federal Census Bureau has recently released 2009 population estimates for Iowa and for Iowa Counties.  Since 2000, the state population of Iowa is estimated to have grown 2.8%, from 2,926,324 to 3,007,856.  For the first time, Iowa's population has finally broken the 3 million barrier.

Washington County is also estimated to have grown by 2.8% since the 2000 Census. In 2000, the County's population was 20,670. In 2009, the estimated population was 21,258.

In 2000, Washington County was the 32nd largest County out of 99 Iowa Counties. In 2009, Washington County was now the 28th most populous County.

Washington County has been the 13th fastest growing County in Iowa since 2000.  Only 22 Iowa Counties  have grown since 2000, while 79 Counties have lost population.

Washington County has grown by having a net influx of people moving into the County, including domestic as well as international movers.  The County also grew the old fashioned way, by having over 600 more births than deaths from 2000 to 2009.

Johnson and Washington Counties make up the Iowa City MSA.  The Iowa City MSA is one of the fastest growing metro areas in the Midwest and nation, with over 15% growth since 2000. This represents over 20,000 new people in the metro area, bringing the metro area population to over 152,000.

This confirms what most of us already knew; Washington County and the Iowa City MSA is a great, growing region in Southeast Iowa.

For data on all Iowa Counties, go the Iowa State Data Center