MSB rural parts rank high in state population

MAT-SU—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough remains the fastest growing region in Alaska as it has for the past 16 years. In the 2000-2006 period, it grew at an average annual rate of 4.2 percent, compared to its 4.0 percent annual growth rate during the 1990s, according to an analysis by Greg Williams, state demographer, with the Alaska Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development.

The population in the MAT-SU was 77,174 as of July 2006.

All but two of the top 12 places that experienced the most rapid growth in the 2000-2006 period are in the MAT-SU, Williams said in a press release yesterday.

"Indeed, if it incorporated, Knik-Fairview would become the fifth largest city in the state," Williams said.

The Knik-Fairview area had 11,238 residents as of July 2006. Find out more details by reading the release entitled, Labor Releases State, Borough and Place 2006 Populations.

The places with populations greater than 2,000 that have had the highest average annual growth rates since the 2000 Census include the Knik-Fairview Census Designated Place (CDP) (+7.3 percent), Fishhook CDP (+5.7), Tanaina CDP (+5.3), Homer city (+5.1), Meadow Lakes CDP (+4.7), Gateway CDP (+4.1), Butte CDP (+3.4), Wasilla city (+3.4), Palmer city (+3.3), Kalifornsky CDP (+2.7), Lakes CDP (+2.6) and Big Lake CDP (+2.5).

The release is available on the Labor Department's Web site at http://almis.labor.state.ak.us/