From Deseret News archives:
Provo is back in the big leagues
Revised Census number says it's a 'large city'
In June, the U.S. Census Bureau removed Provo from its 2004 list of American "large cities" and declared it had only 99,624 residents.
Four months later, the bureau says Provo has 111,718 residents although the bureau's Web site lags behind, still listing the smaller number Friday.
How's that for immigration?
Of course, Provo's position was that it was growing all along, not shrinking. After the June announcement, Mayor Lewis Billings immediately said he would challenge the census data because city demographers believed Provo was home to between 110,000 and 115,000 people.
The revised estimate draws Provo nearly even with West Valley City in the hotly contested race for second-largest city in Utah, behind Salt Lake City. In fact, Provo had hoped to move ahead of West Valley. Provo contended in the challenge filed with the Census Bureau that Provo's population last year reached 115,112, while West Valley City is listed at nearly 113,000.
"This has important impacts on the distribution of federal transportation monies and state income tax monies," Billings said in a written statement released Friday.
The annual Census Bureau estimates are just that, estimates. They are not as reliable as the census conducted every 10 years Provo had 105,166 residents at the last census count in 2000 but they are used by state and federal officials who distribute sales tax funds, road funds and gas tax money.
The Census Bureau attributed its decision to revise Provo's estimate upwards to corrected calculations.
"This difference is due to a correction made to the number of building permits used in calculating the housing unit estimate and a correction to the population living in group quarters," wrote Louisa F. Miller, acting chief of the bureau's population division.
Provo believes the dispute is centered elsewhere.
"I think the real difference is in our estimates of group quarters, including facilities such as the (LDS) Missionary Training Center, nursing homes and student dorms," director of community development Gary McGinn said. "It's gratifying to know that the Census Bureau and Provo city are fairly close in our estimates to the actual population of Provo city."
E-mail: twalch@desnews.com
Comments
- 'Pulp Fiction' writer taken off furlough 8:58 a.m.
- Relative sought in killings 8:51 a.m.
- Death toll from floods in Saudi 8:40 a.m.
- 3 Americans die in cargo plane crash 8:34 a.m.
- Saturday, Sunday on TV 8:31 a.m.
- Chalet readied for house arrest 8:29 a.m.
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust 2:01 a.m.
- Wildcats face tough defense 1:59 a.m.
- Aggies look to Idaho for an example 1:58 a.m.
- Aggies host Southern Utah 1:53 a.m.
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
266 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
212 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
133 - Boys basketball rankings
128 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
112 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
109 - Letters: Trump card for believers
93 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
85 - Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
75
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
Reading this blog gives us such relief that America will never turn away from...
Ask Bonco. He says execution is the key. No really, he did. He's said it...
To Regretful, I'm right there with you. I don't understand how these guys...
"There are no mysteries in today's battle between the Cougars and Utes." -...
Is deflation another word for devaluation? It seems to imply that....
will Utah hang on to the 8th seed in the West? OKC plays HOU at home next as...
Oh, yes, some hacked e-mails completely explain why ice caps are melting,...
I love it when Danny Hazsard writes I often think he must have no life at all...
Our founding fathers purposely framed the Constitution to be a flexible...
I can't imagine that subsidizing 100,000+ illegal immigrants and their...



You can be the first to comment on this story.