[quote style=”2″]City’s Population Now Stands at 17,730[/quote]
The city of Hermiston’s population grew by more than 200 people in 2016, according to new preliminary 2016 estimates from Portland State University’s Population Research Center.
The report shows Hermiston’s population increased from 17,520 to 17,730 – up 210 from 2015. The same report shows Umatilla County grew by 725, increasing from 79,155 to 79,880.
Pendleton grew by 35 people last year for a total population of 16,880.
Hermiston’s increase of 210 during the past year is higher than it has been in several years. The city’s population grew by 175 from 2014 to 2015 and by 105 from 2013 to 2014.
Hermiston Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan said the new population estimates are in line with what the city has been anticipating.
“These numbers are pretty much what we have been projecting, based on building permit activity, which has been up compared to previous years, and so far continue to be ahead of recent years for July through October of 2016; so I don’t see this trend slowing down, at least for the 2017 numbers,” Morgan said.
The city of Umatilla also experienced solid growth in the past year, according to the PSU population estimates, adding 160 people to its population, making it the third-largest city in the county at 7,220, surpassing Milton-Freewater (7,070).
Boardman added 50 people to its population, according to PSU.
The West End of Umatilla County continues to set the pace, accounting for 63 percent of the county’s population.
Morgan said there are many factors which are likely contributing to this dynamic of the West End continuing to be the major growth spot in Umatilla County.
“Locally, the region continues to add primary employment at a good pace, but it is also interesting to note the relationship that our area has with the Tri-Cities housing and labor markets,” Morgan said. “It’s no secret that a sizeable amount of the Greater-Hermiston Area’s labor force has, in the past, chosen to live in the Tri-Cities and commute down every day for work. However, looking at MLS data, and even just Zillow.com, you can see that the median home price in Kennewick has been rapidly rising, to a point that it is now in the neighborhood of $50,000 to $60,000 higher than Hermiston.”
Morgan said that factor may be having an effect of convincing more people who work in the Hermiston area to also live in the area.
“I’m very happy to see that both Hermiston and Umatilla are seeing strong population growth, because this broader region is what commercial developments ultimately look at when making growth/location decisions,” he said.
