State population growth levels off

The Associated Press
Bremerton Sun

April 9, 2004

SEATTLE -- Washington state's population growth held steady in 2003 at a slim 1.1 percent, according to Census Bureau estimates released Thursday.
That's the state's lowest growth rate since 1986.

"It's because of the relatively flat economy," said state demographer Theresa Lowe. "It's lack of job growth."

Still, she said, the number of Californians moving to Washington has been creeping upward, because the economy is even worse there.

Spurred by work at the Hanford nuclear reservation in neighboring Benton County, Franklin County's population grew 6 percent in 2003. That was tops in the state and the 11th fastest-growing county in the nation.

Kitsap County grew by 0.9 percent, Jefferson County by 1.8 percent and Mason County by 2 percent.

The Census Bureau estimated Washington's 2003 population at 6.1 million.