Demographer: Douglas population decelerating

Douglas County's population growth will continue to decelerate over the next 20 years, according to the Nevada State Demographer's Office.

State Demographer Jeff Hardcastle predicts the county's population will continue to grow, but at a continually smaller rate.

Hardcastle listed the county's population as 53,307 for 2008 with a projected 2.1 percent growth rate, dropping to 1.2 percent in 2010.

According to Hardcastle's report, Douglas County's population will be 64,860 in 2028.

Lyon County's population ie expected to grow far faster with a total population of 105,533 over the same duration. Carson City will grow far more slowly than either neighbor, with an ending population of 62,201. Hardcastle reports that Carson City will actually lose population until 2010.

Nevada is projected to grow by more than 1.3 million or 49 percent over the next 20 years.

"Nevada will likely continue to outpace the national growth rate. The Census Bureau's National Projections show the United States growing by 22 percent between 2007 and 2028 and Nevada's growth rate is projected at 49 percent for the same period," said Jeff Hardcastle, the State Demographer. "Even though Nevada is expected to grow over the next 20 years, there is uncertainty about near-term changes in our population."

Hardcastle's Douglas County population estimate for 2007 is about 7,000 people off from the U.S. Census Bureau's.

The state lists Douglas' population as 52,386 and shows a slight increase in population. The Census lists the county's population on July 1, 2007, as 45,406, showing a decreatse from the previous year. Carson City's state and federal estimates are much closer, as are Lyon County's.