Petersburg and Wrangell both saw an overall increase in population from 2010 through 2019, but while Petersburg's population rose between 2018 and 2019, Wrangell's population saw a drop in the same timeframe, according to data from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
There were 3,203 residents living in Petersburg in 2010 and in 2019, there were 3,226, according to the ADLWD. Those figures equal to a .08 percent growth for the decade and 1.12 percent growth in the last year.
"First of all, that doesn't surprise me," said Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht. "[Petersburg] is a really great place to live."
An increase in the local population can potentially have a positive effect on the local economy, the borough's budget and the job market, said Giesbrecht. More people in town, means more customers for existing businesses. That transfers over to an increase in revenue coming into the borough via sales tax. Additionally, new residents may pay moorage fees, purchase services from local businesses, pay property taxes and participate in the community.
Giesbrecht said when he speaks to local businesses they tell him that they can't seem to fill open positions. Their need to hire employees reflects a need the Petersburg Borough is also experiencing. Giesbrecht said that despite offering a decent job with good pay and benefits, the borough doesn't get many applicants when advertising an open position.
"It's surprising," said Giesbrecht. "I'm guessing the job market here must be pretty good."
Petersburg also saw a natural increase in the last decade. The natural increase is the difference in the number of births and the number of deaths recorded over a period of time. From 2010 through 2019, Petersburg had a natural increase of 137 people, meaning there were 137 more births than there were deaths; however, from 2018 to 2019, the natural increase was -1.
In Wrangell, the population saw an overall increase of 37 residents in the last decade, and a decrease of 18 residents between 2018 and 2019, according to the ADLWD. There was a .14 percent growth rate in Wrangell from 2010 through 2019 and a -.75 percent growth rate from 2018 to 2019. In 2010 there were 2,369 people living in Wrangell. That number was up to 2,400 in 2019.
With the population increase over the last decade, Wrangell Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen said the community benefits in many ways. There is a more diverse workforce for local businesses. More students in the school district translates to greater school funding from the state. The increase in local economic activity results in a higher sales tax revenue for the borough.
Von Bargen said she was thankful that there was only a decrease of 18 people in Wrangell from 2018 to 2019, because a decrease in population means a reverse of the all the positive outcomes that resulted from an increase in population.
"For a small community, any reduction is significant," said Von Bargen.
Southeast Alaska's overall population has increased by 709 in the last decade, but has decreased by 284 between 2018 and 2019, according to the ADLWD
There was a .11 percent population growth in Southeast Alaska from 2010 to 2019. The region had a total population of 71,664 in 2010, and in 2019, that number was 72,373. However, from 2018 to 2019, the population saw a .39 percent decline, decreasing from 72,657 to 72,373, according to the ADLWD.
Like Southeast Alaska, the State of Alaska had a positive average growth rate from 2010 to 2019, but had a negative average growth rate between 2018 and 2019. There were 710,231 residents in Alaska in 2010. In 2019, there were 731,007 residents in the state. Since 2016, the population in Alaska has been dropping. In 2016, the overall population in the state was 739,649. The population dropped to 737,783 in 2017, and in 2018, the population was 734,055.
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