Las Cruces’ rate of growth increased between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006, according to the Census estimate released today.
The city’s population on July 1, 2006, was 86,268, according to the new estimate. That represented growth of 12,001 people, or 16.2 percent, since the 2000 Census.
The city grew by about 3,600 residents during that one-year span. The prior year, it grew by 2,600 residents. The newest estimate is already a year old, and the city now believes the population is well above 90,000.
By comparison, Albuquerque, a city more than five times the size of Las Cruces, added 10,472 residents during the same one-year period to increase to a population of 504,949, according to the Census estimate. Rio Rancho, the state’s fastest-growing city, increased its population by more than 5,000 residents to 71,607, and has grown by almost 20,000 residents since 2000.
But Rio Rancho didn’t overtake Santa Fe to become the state’s third-largest city in the newest estimate. Santa Fe grew by more than 1,100 residents to a population of 72,056 as of July 1, 2006.
Thanks for Capitol Report New Mexico for bringing this to my attention.