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Wyoming sees an increase in its population rate

Wyoming has the fourth fastest-growing population in the nation. That’s according to recent U.S. Census estimates from July 2011 to July 2012.

Statewide, Wyoming's numbers are up 1.6% after a couple years of slow growth following the recession. Senior State Economist Wenlin Liu says Wyoming is experiencing two types of growth.

"That 1.6 percent was over 9 thousand people," says Liu, "And that 9 thousand people, about 1/3 or 3,000 people, was from natural change."

Natural change refers to birth rates versus death rates. The other reason Wyoming’s population grew is because more people moved to Wyoming than left.

Liu says growth occurred mainly in the Central, Northeast and Southwest parts of the state.

"That’s mainly because the extraction industry recovered pretty well. That’s why counties like Converse, Natrona, Sublette, Sweetwater and Campbell counties are growing faster."

Liu says rural areas without mineral extraction continued to experience slower growth or decline.

Sara Hossaini is a reporter for Wyoming Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She brings a blend of documentary journalism and public interest communications experience developed through her work as a nonprofit multimedia consultant and Associate Producer on national PBS documentary films through groups such as the Center for Asian American Media, Fenton Communications and The Working Group. She likes to travel, to get her hands in the dirt and to explore her creative side through music, crafts and dance.
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