GREEN RIVER - In southwest Wyoming, the wind blows, the natural gas flows and most recently, the population grows and grows, according to the latest census figures.

Fastest-growing cities

The 20 cities and towns in Wyoming that experienced the greatest growth between 2006 and 2007:

City/town 2006 estimate 2007 estimate Pct change 2000 census Pct change 2000-07

1. Pinedale 1,818 2,043 11% 1,412 45%

2. Bar Nunn 1,523 1,700 10.4% 936 82%

3. Pine Haven 330 359 8.1% 222 62%

4. Marbleton 848 919 7.7% 720 28%

5. Star Valley Ranch 623 668 6.7% NA NA

6. Hulett 429 457 6.1% 408 12%

7. Baggs 363 386 6% 348 11%

8. Gillette 23,624 25,031 5.6% 19,646 27%

9. La Barge 423 446 5.2% 431 4%

10. Big Piney 453 476 4.8% 408 17%

11. Buffalo 4,377 4,597 4.8% 3,900 18%

12. Thayne 340 356 4.5% 341 4%

13. Upton 852 891 4.4% 872 2%

14. Cowley 578 604 4.3% 560 8%

15. Wright 1,468 1,529 4% 1,347 14%

16. Lyman 1,913 1,990 3.9% 1,938 3%

17. Newcastle 3,199 3,324 3.8% 3,065 9%

18. Sundance 1,161 1,205 3.7% 1,161 4%

19. Rock Springs 18,956 19,659 3.6% 18,708 5%

20. Green River 11,702 12,072 3.1% 11,808 2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau estimates

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Federal data show that southwest Wyoming is bearing the brunt of the state's population growth. And Sublette County has landed a whole bunch of those new people moving to the state.

Pinedale in Sublette County had the fastest growth rate among towns and cities in Wyoming last year, with an astounding 11 percent growth rate, the U.S. Census Bureau's subcounty population estimates being released today show.

Sublette County's only other two incorporated towns - Marbleton and neighbor Big Piney - were also ranked fourth and 10th, respectively, among 101 Wyoming communities in the rankings.

Marbleton had a 7.7 percent growth rate and Big Piney a 4.8 percent rate over the past year, according to the Census Bureau estimates.

Sublette's growth comes in a county that had an annual average growth rate of around 1.6 percent in the 30 years between 1970 and 2000, according to county figures.

"It's not really surprising at all," Sublette County Planning Director Bart Myers said of the latest census figures, which are tied heavily to the development of the nearby Pinedale Anticline and Jonah fields, two of the nation's largest natural gas fields.

"I think every one of our small communities has dealt with this population influx … and I do think we're handling it really well," Myers said.

Overall, nine of the state's top 20 fastest-growing communities last year are located in Sublette, Uinta, Sweetwater and Lincoln counties in southwest Wyoming.

The Census Bureau estimates show Rock Springs and Green River in Sweetwater County had nearly the same growth rates - 3.6 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively, over the past year. Lyman in Uinta County's Bridger Valley had a 3.9 percent growth rate.

One of Wyoming's newest incorporated municipalities - Star Valley Ranch in Lincoln County, which officially became a town in December 2005 - was fifth on the list, with a 6.7 percent growth rate.

Myers said Sublette County's population boom is directly attributable to the unprecedented gas field development.

As the pace of development has increased, Sublette County has seen its population grow sharply, from fewer than 6,000 in 2000 to over 7,200 last year.

A consultant's housing assessment released in February said Sublette County has had an annual growth rate of 4.3 percent since 2001. If the rate continues, it would double the county's population every 16 years.

The study estimated Sublette County could see an additional population from the gas boom of around 2,000 people by 2010, and around 3,000 people by 2015.

"The (natural gas) companies are telling us about 80 percent of the people that were going to be here for the gas exploration boom are already here," Myers said in a phone interview.

"So it's obvious we're dependent on the gas exploration, which has been the primary factor for our population increase," he said. "And if that activity increases, I expect we would see another bump in population soon."

Housing units

Census Bureau officials said the population estimates are produced using housing unit estimates to distribute a county's population to "subcounty areas."

Officials said building permits, estimates of construction where no building permits are reported, mobile home shipments, and estimates of housing unit loss are all used to update housing unit changes since the 2000 census.

Myers said the county also tries to track real estate trends, and those trends are showing the beginnings of a slowdown in population growth.

"I think we're seeing for the first half of 2008 a leveling off, actually … We're down about 100 building permits from where we were at this point last year," he said.

"In June, there were about 300 residential lots on the market countywide … and I think just five or so sold and closed," Myers said.

"And it's the same thing with residential units already built," he said. "The inventory is increasing and demand seems to be dropping … so maybe we have seen the worst of the county's population explosion. I think the lag time from when this first hit has shrunk or maybe even disappeared."

Southwest Wyoming bureau reporter Jeff Gearino can be reached at 307-875-5359 or at gearino@tribcsp.com.

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