Nebraska population on the rise, census says

Posted By: Sarah Fili

sfili@klkntv.com

In 2015, the country hit a mid way mark in the census. Now, new data is detailing Nebraska’s growth.

"Nebraska has usually been about middle of the pack regarding population growth among the 50 states but here in the more recent periods we’re doing relatively better often ranking in the low 20’s and beating our best comparison states of Iowa and Kansas.,” David Drozd, a census and data specialist at UNO, said.

The Cornhusker state grew to around 1.9 million people. Lincoln gained 31,000 new residents, and Omaha is expected to hit 1 million by 2024. But is it enough to keep hold of all three house seats?

"Population data are really two things, money and power. Money from federal funding formulas that come for state high way projects and things of that nature and political power that is associated. So if Nebraska isn’t able to keep our population growing enough to maintain our current 3 congressional seats that district could go off to Texas or California or another fast growing area and they may have different priorities than we do," Drozd said.

Nebraska is growing faster than our neighbors, and Lincoln ranks alongside our college city comparisons, like East Lansing, College Station and Bloomington. But what can we do to keep it that way?

"We are seeing a resurgence in the arts and entertainment industry like in Omaha we have the downtown music scene and events like at the request center and Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln and it is helping to keep our young people here and that is a definite advantage for the state,” Drozd said.

The majority of the good life’s residents are in what researchers call, "the big 3" Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster counties. This year, they hit all time highs. Grand Island also hit a population high of more than 50,000, officially classifying it a metro area. Researchers say so far, this census data is improved from the 2000’s. The Lincoln metro moved up four spots from 2010, to 154th largest in the U.S.

The estimated population for the Lincoln area is 323,578 and the Omaha metro area is 915,312.

To view the census data, click here: http://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-public-affairs-and-community-service/center-for-public-affairs-research/programs/population-estimates.php