The Population Research Center is an interdisciplinary public service, research, and training unit for population-related data and research for the State of Oregon, and they have recently released their 2020 preliminary population estimates. Unsurprisingly, Deschutes County, home to the city of Bend, posted the largest gains with a 2.1% increase. Most of the larger counties gained, especially in the Portland Metro area. Clackamas and Lane Counties kept pace with the State as a whole, posting 0.7% gains.

Rural Counties failed to keep pace, and some rural counties in Southern and Eastern Oregon actually lost population. Lake, Klamath and Josephine Counties in Southern Oregon and Grant and Harney Counties in Eastern Oregon all lost population.

As Oregon outpaces growth in the United States as a whole, a shift in Congressional apportionment is expected. Oregon is expected to gain a sixth Congressional district when the dust settles from the 2020 census.

Little Sherman County, home of the confluence of the John Day and Columbia Rivers, added only 25 people, but as Oregon's second smallest county, it posted a whopping growth rate of 1.4%, making it the second fastest growing county in Oregon. Experts are skeptical that it can keep this rate up.

County	Preliminary Population Estimate July 1, 2020	Certified Population Estimate July 1, 2019	Population Change 2019-20	Percent Change 2019-20
Oregon	4,268,055	4,236,400	31,655	0.7%
DESCHUTES	197,015	193,000	4,015	2.1%
SHERMAN	1,795	1,770	25	1.4%
MORROW	12,825	12,680	145	1.1%
JEFFERSON	24,105	23,840	265	1.1%
WASHINGTON	620,080	613,410	6,670	1.1%
POLK	83,805	82,940	865	1.0%
COLUMBIA	53,280	52,750	530	1.0%
MULTNOMAH	829,560	821,730	7,830	1.0%
JACKSON	223,240	221,290	1,950	0.9%
CLACKAMAS	426,515	423,420	3,095	0.7%
LANE	381,365	378,880	2,485	0.7%
HOOD RIVER	25,640	25,480	160	0.6%
LINN	127,320	126,550	770	0.6%
BAKER	16,910	16,820	90	0.5%
YAMHILL	108,605	108,060	545	0.5%
UMATILLA	81,495	81,160	335	0.4%
MARION	349,120	347,760	1,360	0.4%
BENTON	94,665	94,360	305	0.3%
CLATSOP	39,455	39,330	125	0.3%
DOUGLAS	112,530	112,250	280	0.2%
MALHEUR	32,105	32,030	75	0.2%
WASCO	27,295	27,240	55	0.2%
WALLOWA	7,160	7,150	10	0.1%
TILLAMOOK	26,530	26,500	30	0.1%
LINCOLN	48,305	48,260	45	0.1%
COOS	63,315	63,290	25	0.0%
CURRY	23,005	23,000	5	0.0%
CROOK	23,440	23,440	0	0.0%
GILLIAM	1,990	1,990	0	0.0%
UNION	26,840	26,840	0	0.0%
WHEELER	1,440	1,440	0	0.0%
LAKE	8,075	8,080	-5	-0.1%
KLAMATH	68,075	68,190	-115	-0.2%
JOSEPHINE	86,560	86,750	-190	-0.2%
GRANT	7,315	7,360	-45	-0.6%
HARNEY	7,280	7,360	-80	-1.1%

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-11-28 17:22:57

Last Update: 2020-11-28 17:36:21