Utah County had the overall largest increase in population — 18,185 people, including 7,592 who immigrated there. Some members of the population estimates committee surmised that its gain and neighboring Salt Lake County's loss from immigration suggest many Salt Lakers may have moved to Utah County. (A chart with estimated populations of all 29 counties is available online.)

The biggest increase by percentage was in Uintah County, where the population jumped 5.7 percent. Tennert said that likely came, in part, because of increasing economic opportunities there as oil drilling and exploration increased when oil prices rose.

The estimates committee also figured that Utah again set a record for births last year, as it has done for several years as baby boomers' grandchildren have children. (A peak in births once came about 1961 from the post-World War II baby-boom generation; another came about 1982 as their children had children, called the baby-boom echo; a third is occurring now as baby boomers' grandchildren have kids in what is called the "echo echo.")

Perlich said, "I expect Utah will continue to have record numbers of children for another four or five years" as that "echo echo" phenomenon continues, and Utah's large family sizes contribute to it.

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