Young people proving to be North Dakota's fastest-growing demographic

(GrandForksHerald) - North Dakota is growing, and those changes are most obvious for one group: young people.

Kevin Iverson, manager of the U.S. Census office with the North Dakota Department of Commerce, said the state's growing population has grown the most among 20 to 34 year olds, followed by those 4 year olds and younger—in part because of an inflow of new residents generated by a strong economy.

Iverson said data from the U.S. Census Bureau tracked the state's data from April 2010 through July 2014, though 2015 numbers will be available in coming months. Still, he said, the data has important ramifications for the state.

"Ten years ago, a lot of discussions in the state of North Dakota centered around school consolidation—how are we going to keep the football team operating?" he said, ticking off rising school construction and day care issues as well as a higher labor participation rate. "I believe very strongly that the reason we're gaining younger individuals is that we're gaining workforce opportunities."

Iverson provided a trove of data to illustrate the trend. The number of 20 to 34 year olds has increased around the state from about 150,000 to nearly 179,000 between 2010 and 2014—an increase of about 17.1 percent. In Grand Forks County, that change was 11.9 percent; in Cass County, it was 11.2 percent; in Burleigh County it was 11.5 percent.

According to data provided by Iverson, some of the most drastic relative changes in young populations have happened in smaller, western counties. For example, McKenzie County saw a 116.8 percent growth among the same cohort, and Dunn County saw a 73.4 percent increase.

Statewide, groups of older residents—especially those who are age 65 and older—have grown, albeit more slowly than expected. Iverson said part of the issue has been a relatively national housing market—giving retirees more freedom to move around the country—coupled with issues like the 2011 Minot flood, which he said likely affected the elderly more than the young. (Full Story)