Census estimates suggest flood didn’t shrink Cedar Rapids

New census estimates released Tuesday, June 22, indicate that Cedar Rapids didn't lose population after a 2008 flood dislocated about 18,000 residents.

The Census Bureau's estimates show Cedar Rapids with a 2009 population of 128,182, up 563 from 2008.

On a percentage basis, the 2009 increase of 0.44 percent was a little lower than the city's nine-year average increase of 0.585 percent.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett said he'll feel more sure of the situation when he sees the results of the 2010 decennial census later this year, but the census estimates are “normally pretty close.”

“We knew a lot of people in the flood areas had to relocate,” Corbett said. “Based on these numbers, it appears they relocated to other places in Cedar Rapids rather than outside.”

Among Corridor cities, Iowa City appeared to lead the way in growth in 2009. The estimates show Iowa City's population growing about 1.9 percent from 2008 to 2009, or 1,315.

That would be an improvement on Iowa City's nine-year average growth rate of 1.1 percent. Iowa City's economic development coordinator, Wendy Ford, said she had not yet reviewed the census estimates, but she did not dispute the estimate.

North Liberty's hot growth streak cooled down only a little in 2009 if the estimates are correct. They show North Liberty growing by 5.6 percent to 12,210. The company had averaged growth of 13.6 percent annually since 2000.

Marion's grew by 1.6 percent in 2009, adding 512 residents, according to the estimates. That was a little slower than the nine-year average growth rate of 2.7 percent.

Coralville's growth rate also slowed, according to the census bureau. They show Coralville adding 0.87 percent, or 162 to its population from 2008 to 2009. Coralville was among the Iowa cities hit hardest by the 2008 floods. The city's population growth had averaged 2.5 percent over nine years.

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