Idaho’s most populous counties are seeing population growth, while the state’s smallest counties are seeing people leave, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.  All six counties with more than 75,000 people, Ada, Canyon, Kootenai, Bonneville, Twin Falls, and Bannock, saw population growth of more than 1 percent from 2008 to 2009.  The census bureau estimates say that 23 rural counties saw more people move out than move in during that span.  Ten of those counties had large enough natural population growth, meaning births exceeding deaths, to still have a population increase.

Valley County saw a 2.2 percent population decrease.  A Department of Labor news release says the national recession and failure of the Tamarack result led to its population loss.  Seven other counties saw their populations drop by more than 1 percent from 2008 to 2009.  See the full results of the latest census estimates at the Department of Labor website.