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Delegation gets seventh seat in Congress after state grows by 1 million during last decade
By Burt HubbardDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
The Census Bureau Thursday rewarded Colorado for its unprecedented growth of 1 million new residents during the 1990s with a seventh congressional seat. Colorado was the third-fastest-growing state in the country during the decade, reaching a population of 4,301,262, according to the new 2000 Census population counts. That's a 30.6 percent hike over 10 years. "That's remarkable," said Jerry O'Donnell with the Census Bureau's Denver regional office. "We're in the with big guns — California, Florida — in terms of sheer numbers." Colorado was one of only eight states that gained more than a million people. The numbers confirm state estimates that Colorado experienced unabated growth during the 1990s, fueled by a robust economy and heavy migration of retirees and Hispanics, many from California. Click image for larger view "All the chads are in. This is real," said Jeff Romine, regional economist with the Denver Regional Council of Governments. "All these people really do exist." With the growth comes a new seat in Congress and hundreds of millions of dollars in added federal funds for transportation, light rail, education and social services. State demographer Jim Westkott said officials estimate that the state gets $150 in federal funds for each resident. The 2000 count is about 200,000 higher than the Census Bureau's latest estimate of Colorado's population. That number means an additional $300 million in federal funds to the state over 10 years, Westkott said. The surge in Colorado was part of a population explosion in the eight-state Rocky Mountain region. U.S Census - 2000Use the form below to view the resident population numbers from the 2000 Census. Sort by: State Pop. as of 2000 Pop. as of 1990 Numeric Change Percent Change Related stories: Colorado rewarded for growth Census confirms quick growth State growth will bring in more money Colorado's population in perspective State gains political clout Seventh House seat up for grabs Graphics: State-by-state growth Colorado population timeline Congressional winners and losers The top five fastest-growing states all came from the region, led by Nevada with a whopping 66.3 percent growth rate and Arizona, which grew by 40 percent. Overall, the region grew by a third, or at about three times the national growth rate. The Rocky Mountain area gained four congressional seats and just missed two more, said Tim Storey, redistricting analyst for the National Council of State Legislatures. "This is a major pickup for Colorado and the West," said Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo. "Anytime you gain additional Western voices and votes in a Congress largely dominated by Easterners, it's a big, big deal." The new seat is likely to lead to a protracted fight in the state legislature. Only minutes after it became official, Republicans and Democrats were predicting a bitter battle over drawing the new district's boundaries and reshaping the state's other six seats. Republicans have a 4-2 advantage. "The redistricting act is highly partisan and very political as well it should be," said Senate Democratic Majority Leader Bill Thiebaut of Pueblo. The Senate, controlled by Democrats, and the House, controlled by Republicans, must agree on a plan that is signed by Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican. Owens said he hoped the two parties could work out an equitable compromise without having the federal courts draw the boundaries. That happened in 1980 when the state was awarded the sixth congressional seat and the Democratic governor and Republican state legislature couldn't agree on a plan. "Certainly, we'd like to do it ourselves rather than have the courts do it," Owens said. The governor said redistricting might require a special session. Owens said he envisions the district would be carved out of the south metro area where much of the growth has taken place. That would include the new city of Centennial as well as much of fast-growing Douglas County. It also would make it likely a Republican seat, he said. Others have speculated that the seventh seat could be centered in Jefferson County, giving Democrats a better chance at winning it. Whatever the case, Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette was quick to caution the state legislature not to divide Denver, which she represents, when it changes boundaries. "Really Denver is a community of interest. Once you start breaking it apart, the citizens of Denver won't be well served," DeGette said. Population figures for cities and counties won't be available until March. But based on the high state numbers, Denver and Douglas and Arapahoe counties should show hefty increases, Romine said. Westkott said he estimates Denver will exceed 530,000 people to regain the lead from Jefferson County as the state's most populous county. "That's going to be very good for them," he said. Denver Mayor Wellington Webb said the census count should show that Denver was one of the few major cities to show dramatic growth during the 1990s. "That puts us in the larger city category and it makes us eligible for more federal aid," Webb said. That's a far cry from 10 years ago when the Census Bureau counted only 467,000 people in the city, costing it millions in federal funds because it fell below 500,000. Douglas County, the fastest-growing county in the U.S. during the 1990s, should show even stronger growth when the figures come out, Romine said. Westkott said he believes the Census Bureau, with help from local governments, did a much better job this time in counting Colorado's population than it did in 1990 when about 70,000 people are believed to have been missed. "Certainly, it's reflective of a very good count in the state," he said. O'Donnell said the bureau was able to recruit enough workers to go door-to-door to count people who didn't send in the forms and got help from cities to count the homeless and undocumented workers. Colorado's response rate exceeded the national average. Westkott correctly predicted the 4.3 million census count in earlier state estimates. The state and Census Bureau use different methods to come up with their estimates. Thursday's figure also includes 10,621 Coloradans living overseas. Westkott and Romine said the growth is expected to continue unabated through the next decade as the economy remains strong and the state increasingly becomes a haven for retirees. "Our best guess is for the next 10 years, we are going to see economic growth driving population growth similar to what we have seen," Romine said. The continued growth will challenge the state to avoid degradation in the quality of life caused by increased traffic and congestion. The state legislature is prepared to take up growth control measures this session. "Our challenge is not to necessarily stop the economic growth," Romine said. "Our challenge is to figure out how to manage the growth." News staff writers Michele Ames and John Sanko contributed to this report. Contact Burt Hubbard at (303) 892-5107 or hubbardd@RockyMountainNews.com. December 29, 2000
The Census Bureau Thursday rewarded Colorado for its unprecedented growth of 1 million new residents during the 1990s with a seventh congressional seat.
Colorado was the third-fastest-growing state in the country during the decade, reaching a population of 4,301,262, according to the new 2000 Census population counts.
That's a 30.6 percent hike over 10 years.
"That's remarkable," said Jerry O'Donnell with the Census Bureau's Denver regional office. "We're in the with big guns — California, Florida — in terms of sheer numbers."
Colorado was one of only eight states that gained more than a million people.
The numbers confirm state estimates that Colorado experienced unabated growth during the 1990s, fueled by a robust economy and heavy migration of retirees and Hispanics, many from California.
With the growth comes a new seat in Congress and hundreds of millions of dollars in added federal funds for transportation, light rail, education and social services.
State demographer Jim Westkott said officials estimate that the state gets $150 in federal funds for each resident. The 2000 count is about 200,000 higher than the Census Bureau's latest estimate of Colorado's population.
That number means an additional $300 million in federal funds to the state over 10 years, Westkott said.
The surge in Colorado was part of a population explosion in the eight-state Rocky Mountain region.
Overall, the region grew by a third, or at about three times the national growth rate.
The Rocky Mountain area gained four congressional seats and just missed two more, said Tim Storey, redistricting analyst for the National Council of State Legislatures.
"This is a major pickup for Colorado and the West," said Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo. "Anytime you gain additional Western voices and votes in a Congress largely dominated by Easterners, it's a big, big deal."
The new seat is likely to lead to a protracted fight in the state legislature.
Only minutes after it became official, Republicans and Democrats were predicting a bitter battle over drawing the new district's boundaries and reshaping the state's other six seats.
Republicans have a 4-2 advantage.
"The redistricting act is highly partisan and very political as well it should be," said Senate Democratic Majority Leader Bill Thiebaut of Pueblo.
The Senate, controlled by Democrats, and the House, controlled by Republicans, must agree on a plan that is signed by Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican.
Owens said he hoped the two parties could work out an equitable compromise without having the federal courts draw the boundaries. That happened in 1980 when the state was awarded the sixth congressional seat and the Democratic governor and Republican state legislature couldn't agree on a plan.
"Certainly, we'd like to do it ourselves rather than have the courts do it," Owens said.
The governor said redistricting might require a special session.
Owens said he envisions the district would be carved out of the south metro area where much of the growth has taken place. That would include the new city of Centennial as well as much of fast-growing Douglas County.
It also would make it likely a Republican seat, he said.
Others have speculated that the seventh seat could be centered in Jefferson County, giving Democrats a better chance at winning it.
Whatever the case, Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette was quick to caution the state legislature not to divide Denver, which she represents, when it changes boundaries.
"Really Denver is a community of interest. Once you start breaking it apart, the citizens of Denver won't be well served," DeGette said.
Population figures for cities and counties won't be available until March.
But based on the high state numbers, Denver and Douglas and Arapahoe counties should show hefty increases, Romine said.
Westkott said he estimates Denver will exceed 530,000 people to regain the lead from Jefferson County as the state's most populous county.
"That's going to be very good for them," he said.
Denver Mayor Wellington Webb said the census count should show that Denver was one of the few major cities to show dramatic growth during the 1990s.
"That puts us in the larger city category and it makes us eligible for more federal aid," Webb said.
That's a far cry from 10 years ago when the Census Bureau counted only 467,000 people in the city, costing it millions in federal funds because it fell below 500,000.
Douglas County, the fastest-growing county in the U.S. during the 1990s, should show even stronger growth when the figures come out, Romine said.
Westkott said he believes the Census Bureau, with help from local governments, did a much better job this time in counting Colorado's population than it did in 1990 when about 70,000 people are believed to have been missed.
"Certainly, it's reflective of a very good count in the state," he said.
O'Donnell said the bureau was able to recruit enough workers to go door-to-door to count people who didn't send in the forms and got help from cities to count the homeless and undocumented workers.
Colorado's response rate exceeded the national average.
Westkott correctly predicted the 4.3 million census count in earlier state estimates. The state and Census Bureau use different methods to come up with their estimates.
Thursday's figure also includes 10,621 Coloradans living overseas.
Westkott and Romine said the growth is expected to continue unabated through the next decade as the economy remains strong and the state increasingly becomes a haven for retirees.
"Our best guess is for the next 10 years, we are going to see economic growth driving population growth similar to what we have seen," Romine said.
The continued growth will challenge the state to avoid degradation in the quality of life caused by increased traffic and congestion.
The state legislature is prepared to take up growth control measures this session.
"Our challenge is not to necessarily stop the economic growth," Romine said. "Our challenge is to figure out how to manage the growth."
News staff writers Michele Ames and John Sanko contributed to this report. Contact Burt Hubbard at (303) 892-5107 or hubbardd@RockyMountainNews.com.
December 29, 2000
