Nevada nation's fastest-growing state for 17 years

Nevada's population grew by another 4.1 percent in fiscal 2003, keeping the title of the nation's fastest-growing state.

"Nevada continues to be the fastest-growing state, having been that for the past 17 years," said state demographer Jeff Hardcastle.

He estimated the state's total population at 2,295,566 as of July 1, 2003.

But that growth is far from even, with nearly all of it concentrated in Southern Nevada and the western corridor from Reno to Douglas County.

Carson City, the only community in the state with a growth cap, increased by just seven-tenths of a percent from July 2002 to July 2003. The capital's population was listed as 55,220.

By percentage, Lyon County was by far the fastest-growing county - 6.4 percent, compared to 4.6 percent for Clark and Nye. Lyon has 41,244 residents, according to the population survey.

Douglas County reported 3.1 percent growth rate - most of it in new housing developments in Gardnerville - and a total population of 45,603.

Clark County added 71,091 residents in 2003, bringing its population to 1,620,748. Washoe added 13,810 new residents for a population of 373,233.

Beyond that, most counties were flat or losing population. Seven of the state's 10 rural counties reported declining population totals - Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Mineral and White Pine.

Pershing and Humboldt counties stayed pretty much even. Only Eureka County among the rurals reported a significant increase in population - 2.6 percent. But that amounts to just 36 new residents since the total county populations is just 1,420.

Hardcastle's office does the projections every fiscal year. The numbers are used to help apportion sales tax and other revenues among the counties and for other purposes.