Grant County population tops 80,000

Moses Lake estimate rises to 16,830

GRANT COUNTY — The number of people moving to Grant County continues to creep up. And with this year's increase nearly double what it was a year ago, the population numbers don't show any sign of slowing down.

The county's population topped 80,000 people for the first time in 2006, and the county's largest city of Moses Lake saw an increase of nearly 500 people over last year, according to figures released last week by the state Office of Financial Management. But some local officials say the numbers are a little light, and contend the state's formula for calculating the population change leaves the city with a smaller population than their own estimates.

Grant County's population saw a 1,500 person increase from 79,100 to 80,600 from 2005 to 2006. Moses Lake increased in population by 490 people from 16,340 in 2005 to 16,830 this year.

Terry Brewer said he had been anxiously awaiting the annual numbers, and the executive director of the Grant County Economic Development Council said he wasn't surprised by the 1,500 person increase countywide.

"I was expecting to see that kind of jump, we've been seeing the signs for the last few years," Brewer said, adding the numbers were gratifying for the work the council has been doing to bring industry to the area.

But Moses Lake Community Development Director Gilbert Alvarado points to city estimates based upon housing and occupancy levels over the past year in stating the city's population estimate is a little higher. Moses Lake estimates show approximately 17,000 people residing in the city.

Alvarado said the state takes factors like school district numbers, postal service deliveries and tax filings into accounts which have a tendency to reduce those numbers. The city could let the state know it doesn't agree with the numbers, but Alvarado said short of paying for a census, the state's numbers are likely to stay the same.

Alvarado pointed out the 2006 numbers are estimates, and official numbers won't be available until after the next census in 2010. But despite internal numbers that show more people, the 16,830 number should make its first appearance soon on the signs entering Moses Lake.

Moses Lake increases saw a 2.9 percent increase over the past year, more than double the 1.4 percent increase the city saw from 2004 to 2005. The County saw an increase of 1.9 percent during the same period, nearly double the 1.02 percent reported a year ago.

Grant County Commissioner Richard Stevens said the 80,000 number doesn't trigger any changes at the county level, but increased growth does mean increased jobs and services for people in Grant County.

"From a commissioner standpoint, representing the county, I think it's a good thing," Stevens said, noting the extra tax base from a higher population allows the county to provide better services.

But Stevens did mention concerns personally about the growth, and said he does want to make sure the cities of Ephrata and Othello don't connect anytime soon.

He said the county's "in definite play" with the increase in jobs from places like Microsoft and Yahoo!. The two companies both announced plans to build data centers in Quincy earlier this year.

Quincy saw the second biggest population change in Grant County with a 2.4 percent increase, as the city's population rose by 170 people from 5,265 to 5,395 over the past year.

Brewer expects population numbers in Quincy to continue to grow, and noted the number of single-family building permits in the city have also seen a spike this year. He expects growth to continue once those homes are complete.

"I wouldn't expect it to be slow," Brewer said when asked about the speed of that growth.

And that growth won't confined to Quincy. The expansion announcements by other companies means an increase in permanent employees coming to the area, Brewer said. An influx of retirees is another group Brewer said he expects to see moving to central Washington, leading to a high percentage of growth for county's like Grant.

"I think we'll see population growth continue here at a good pace for the next five, six years," Brewer said.