This is how much the population in Washington, Iron counties increased last year

ST. GEORGE — Southwest Utah saw a population increase of over 8,000 people last year, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

In this file photo, the “D” on the Black Hill as seen from downtown St. George, Utah, June 3, 2022 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

Between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022, Iron County gained around 1,900 new residents while Washington County gained 6,200, according to a press release of the federal agency released Thursday.

As of July 2022, Iron County’s population was estimated at 62,429, while Washington County was estimated at 197,680. Both counties experienced a growth rate of just over 3% over the previous year.

The continuing growth across the southwest corner of the state is highlighted in the sight of the many new homes and residential developments that continue to pop up across the region.

“The secret is out and everyone wants to come here,” Washington County Chair Adam Snow said.

Estimates from the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, which runs population demographic estimates for the state, released its estimates in December 2022. The Institute places Iron County at 63,855 people while Washington County’s estimate was 193,700. This places Iron County’s estimated increase at around 2,600 with 4.3% growth and Washington County at nearly 4,300 with 2.3% growth.

For the second time in a year, Iron County is the county to experience the fastest growth in the state while Utah County increased the most in population by nearly 24,000 people. Twenty-eight of Utah’s 29 counties experienced a measure of growth with Daggett County dropping by a negative 0.6%.

In this file photo, Cedar City’s Historic Downtown on Main Street, Cedar City Utah, May 18, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

The state saw an overall increase in the population of over 61,000 people in 2022. Of that growth, 38% came through new births, while net migration – or people moving into the state – made up the remaining 62%.

While the bulk of that population remains situated along the Wasatch Front, Washington County is estimated to make up 7% of the population while Iron County makes up 4.3%. Both counties are estimated to double in population size by 2060.

With the continuing growth also comes the continuing debate on how to best manage it, especially where water is concerned. Ongoing water projects, local conservation policy and recent legislation each continue to play a part as local officials strive to find ways to preserve and reuse the county’s water supply so it is not outpaced by growth.

“We have our challenges, but we’re still here,” Snow said. “It’s still a highly-desirable place to live and grow.”

The U.S. Census places Utah’s population at around 3.38 million while the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute places it at 3.4 million.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!