County population keeps growing By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette Portage County's population grew by 5,777 persons, 9.4 percent, in the 2000 Census from the 1990 Census, according to preliminary figures for the 2000 Census. Those figures say the population increased to 67,182 from the 61,405 counted in 1990. In 1980, the county's population was 57,420, so it grew by 3,985, or 6.48 percent by 1990. Twelve municipalities recorded double-digit growth, led by the village of Plover, where the 2000 count of 10,520 was 2,346 more, or 28.7 percent, above the 1990 figure of 8,174. Plover's population has nearly doubled since the 1980 Census, when the village had 5,310. There was no village in the 1970 Census, since it incorporated early in the 1970s. The second fastest-growing community in the county was the town of Lanark, where 1,449 were counted compared to 1,154 in 1990, or 25.56 percent more. The village of Amherst was next in percentages, a 21.72 percent hike, to 964 from 792. The town of Grant and the village of Rosholt were close in growth percentage, with Grant increasing by 20.74 percent and Rosholt by 20.7 percent. Grant grew to 2,020 from 1,673, while Rosholt grew to 618 from 512. The town of Stockton grew by 16.12 percent, to 2,896 from 2,494; the town of Belmont grew by 15.37 percent, to 623 from 540; the town of Almond grew by 15.08 percent, to 679 from 590; the town of Dewey grew by 14.8 percent, to 975 from 849; the village of Amherst Junction grew 13.38 percent to 305 from 269; the village of Nelsonville grew 11.7 percent to 191 from 171; and the town of Sharon grew 11.14 percent, to 1,936 from 1,742. The county's largest municipality, Stevens Point, gained 1,549 persons, with its population increasing 6.73 percent to 24,551 from 23,002. That's the city largest census population, surpassing the 23,479 recorded in the 1970 census. In the 1980 census, the city's population had fallen to 22,970. Not all areas of the county grew. Among towns, the town of Pine Grove population dropped by 4.74 percent; the town of Eau Pleine by 1.37 percent and the town of Hull by 1.25 percent. A major factor in Hull's decline is the loss of lands to Stevens Point through annexation. Three villages declined in population, led by Junction City, which fell 12.35 percent from 502 to 440. Park Ridge, which is landlocked by the city, dropped 10.62 percent, from 546 to 488. Whiting, which is landlocked by the city and the village of Plover, fell 4.24 percent, from 1,838 to 1,760. Stevens Point, which has accepted annexation more aggressively in the last decade than in some previous decades, was pleased with the numbers. At Monday's Common Council meeting, Mayor Gary Wescott thanked city and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point officials, particularly City Clerk Victoria Zdroik, for their work getting out information about the census to residents. John Gardner, city development and planning director, said his analysis of the census figures indicated that population growth continues at a faster pace north of County Trunk HH, although Plover has attracted a lot of attention with high-percentage growth. He said more homes are being constructed in rural areas than in the city and Plover, many of them appear to be north of HH. 2000 1990 Difference Percentage Portage County 67,182 61,405 5,777 9.4 Towns Alban 897 860 37 4.3 Almond 679 590 89 15.08 Amherst 1,435 1,335 100 7.5 Belmont 623 540 83 15.37 Buena Vista 1,187 1,170 17 1.5 Carson 1,299 1,327 -28 2.1 Dewey 975 849 126 14.8 Eau Pleine 931 944 -13 -1.37 Grant 2,020 1,673 347 20.74 Hull 5,493 5,563 -70 -1.25 Lanark 1,449 1,154 295 25.56 Linwood 1,111 1,035 76 7.3 New Hope 736 694 42 6.05 Pine Grove 904 949 -45 -4.74 Plover 2,415 2,223 192 8.64 Sharon 1,936 1,742 194 11.14 Stockton 2,896 2,494 402 16.12 Villages Almond 459 455 4 0.9 Amherst 964 792 172 21.72 Amherst Junction 305 269 36 13.38 Junction City 440 502 -62 -12.35 Milladore 0 0 Nelsonville 191 171 20 11.7 Park Ridge 488 546 -58 -10.62 Plover 10,520 8,174 2,346 28.7 Rosholt 618 512 106 20.7 Whiting 1,760 1,838 -78 -4.24 City Stevens Point 24,551 23,002 1,549 6.73