Population growth, according to Equifax National Decisions Systems (NDS), is slowing in most places in the United States. From 1990 to 1996, the population of the average U. S. county grew 5.8 percent, but the projected rate between 1996 and 2001 is only 3.4 percent. Furthermore, of the 3,141 county units measured by NDS, only 501 have at least 50,000 residents this year and a projected growth rate which is faster than the national average (American Demographics magazine).

In Wyoming, while only the counties of Laramie and Natrona have more than 50,000 residents, the Figure shows that 11 of Wyoming's 23 counties have projected population growth rates of 6.8 percent or greater, far more than the national average. Sublette and Teton Counties are expected to see the fastest rates of growth (10.2 percent or higher). In fact, NDS does not project any Wyoming counties to experience losses in population from 1996 to 2001, unlike the neighboring states of Nebraska and South Dakota, where the majority of counties are expected to see reductions in population.

A list of the top 50 counties nationwide (in terms of projected population growth) is available at the American Demographics web site, updated to reflect NDS's September 1996 revision of these data. Also available on the Internet is another source of population projections from the U. S. Bureau of the Census and the Wyoming Division of Economic Analysis, which estimate Wyoming's population will grow from 482,680 in 1996 to 498,020 in 2000.

Figure: Percent Population Change in Wyoming Counties 1996-2001

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