Birth rate still high compared to nation

Tooele County’s status as a population growth leader nationwide slipped a little lower in 2008, according to data recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The county’s 4 percent growth rate puts it in a tie with Utah’s Morgan County for No. 43 among the 3,193 counties in the U.S. for 2008 growth. Population figures reported by the U.S. Census bureau are based on estimates for July 1 of each year.

Tooele County added 2,201 people in 2008, according to population estimates for U.S. counties, metropolitan and micropolitan areas, released March 19 by the census bureau.

Back in 2001, Tooele County’s growth rate of 4.9 percent landed it in the No. 17 spot among U.S. counties. The county has slid downward since then, placing as No. 29 for growth among U.S. counties in 2007.

Tooele ranks No. 6 among Utah counties in its overall growth rate, with Rich County at 5.6 percent giving it a rating of No. 1. In 2007, Tooele County was ranked as the fourth fastest growing county in the state.

As Tooele County grows, public safety and infrastructure continue to be concerns of the Tooele County Commission, according to commission chairwoman Colleen Johnson.

“Public safety is always a big concern,” Johnson said. “I believe the county and local law enforcement have done a great job. Water and transportation are also a concern as the county continues to grow.”

The need for a strong tax base is also a concern of Johnson’s.

“We need commercial development to build the tax base, and it takes residential growth to bring the commercial,” she said. “It is all a circle.”

Johnson said the county is looking forward to several new commercial projects in 2009, including a possible commercial park across from Miller Motorsports Park and a retail project in Stansbury Park.

Also released by the U.S Census Bureau last week were components of population growth including birth, death, and migration rates.

The data shows that Tooele County continues to experience a high birth rate compared to the national rate, in addition to a large number of people moving into the county.

Natural population increase — number of births minus number of deaths — accounted for 42 percent of the 2008 population change in the county. While that is less than half of the population change, compared to 81 percent for Salt Lake County, Tooele’s rate of natural increase may seem low.

However, at the rate of 16.3 natural increase per 1,000 population, Tooele County exceeds the statewide average of 15.8 natural increase per 1,000. Both of these figures are well above the national average of 6.2 natural increase per 1,000 population.

Mountain West Medical Center in Tooele has felt the impact of the larger than average birth rate.

“We are adding three additional OBGYNs to our staff this year to accommodate the increase in births,” said Doug Sagers, spokesman for Mountain West Medical Center. “That will bring our total to five physicians and one nurse/midwife. Since opening the new medical facility in 2002 we have experienced a steady increase in births.”

Migration also continues to be a contributing factor to Tooele County’s growth.

While international migration remained stable in 2008, domestic migration dropped off by 251 people for a 17 percent drop.

However, in 2008 migration into the county accounted for 58 percent of the population growth. The domestic migration rate in 2008 of 1,223 people was the fourth highest domestic migration rate in the last nine years, indicating that although 2008 may have been a tough year for real estate in general, people were still moving into Tooele County.

“While natural increase continues to be a string contributor to Tooele County’s growth, it is apparent that people are moving into Tooele County at a faster rate than they are in other places,” said Juliette Tennert, director of Demographic and Economic Analysis for the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. “Tooele is following the normal Utah trend of high birth rates. Utah was the fastest growing state during this time period, so it is not surprising that many of counties have also experienced a high growth rate.”

Tim Gillie: tgillie@tooeletranscript.com