Maricopa County Nears
3,000,000 Mark
PHOENIX (December 9, 1999)
— Maricopa County saw a significant increase in population
the past year, swelling by more than 107,000 people to 2,913,475.
If growth continues at its current pace, Maricopa County will
exceed 3,000,000 people sometime in the next six months, according
to projections by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG).
MAG develops the population projections each year based on the number of new housing units constructed. The estimates are used to distribute $23 million in state lottery funds. The new population figures were formally adopted by the MAG Regional Council during its meeting last night.
Since 1990, the population of Maricopa County has increased by about 770,000 residents. By the end of the decade it will be close to 870,000 residents, adding in just ten years as many people as comprise the entire population of Pima County (846,000), the state's second most populous county.
For the second year in a row, the City of Surprise is tops among cities and towns in Maricopa County when it comes to percentage of growth. Surprise has grown by 39% during the past year, from 18,830 to 26,145 residents Surprise's annual average growth rate since the 1995 Special Census was 27.5%.
Goodyear is second in average annual growth rate, with an 18.2 percent increase since 1995.
The Town of Gilbert surpassed 100,000 residents, a significant increase from its 29,000 residents in 1990 and 59,000 residents in 1995. Gilbert's average annual growth rate since 1995 is 15.6 percent, the third highest among local governments in the County.
Although Phoenix's population has only increased by an average annual rate of 2.1 percent, it has added more than 91,000 residents since 1995, nearly triple Chandler's increase of more than 36,000 people during the same time period.
Two cities in the region— Glendale and Scottsdale — surpassed the 200,000 population threshold with 208,095 and 204,660 residents respectively, as of July 1, 1999.
MAG Socioeconomic Program Manager Harry Wolfe says the growth rate indicates the Valley remains an attractive and desirable place to live. "We can surmise that this region continues to be viewed by people in other parts of the county as an attractive place to move in comparison with other Metropolitan areas," he says.
Tom Rex of the Arizona Center for Business Research estimates that 70% of the 107,000 new residents in the County over the past year is attributed to net migration rather than new births. According to Mr. Rex, the vibrant economy has attracted industries, and the job growth attracted people from other parts of the nation.
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is a regional organization that develops policies and makes decisions in areas such as transportation, air quality, water quality, solid waste and human services. MAG is made up of Valley communities working together to ensure a better quality of life for nearly three million residents in the Maricopa region. The region encompasses metropolitan Phoenix and includes the many cities, towns and Indian communities within Maricopa County. Governed by a Regional Council that includes 24 city mayors and other lead elected officials, MAG is the forum for ensuring an effective allocation of regional resources.
For more information about the population figures, or to arrange interviews, please contact Kelly Taft at (602) 452-5020.