From July 2008 to July 2009 Iowa’s population increased by only 13,869 residents, most of them newly born Iowans or immigrants from abroad, according to new estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Politically, this spells bad news for the Hawkeye State, as it stands to lose one of its five congressional seats during the 2010 redistricting that follows the census.
Despite the fact that Iowa is growing, its rate is slower than the U.S. overall and most other states. Nevada, the fastest growing state, is estimated to have a 32.3 percent increase since the census. Iowa, with its current state estimated population of just over 3 million, increased by only 2.8 percent.
The new estimates come as little surprise to Beth Henning, coordinator of the State Library of Iowa‘s State Data Center Program.
“Slow, steady growth has been the defining feature in Iowa’s population for more than 100 years,” she said. “The latest estimates are consistent with that pattern.”
Between 2000 and 2009, Iowa gained 106,396 residents due to natural change (more births than deaths) and 36,329 immigrants. Together those totals offset a net loss of 52,205 — residents who moved out of Iowa to other states.
Next December the Census Bureau will report the results of the 2010 census, and Henning expects the tradition will continue.
“I think we’ll see a very modest increase in population between the 2000 census and the 2010 census,” she said, noting that Iowa’s response rate will be crucial. She urges all Iowans to fill out their census questionnaires this spring and mail them promptly back to the U.S. Census Bureau.