In 2007, the Twin Cities 7-county region reached nearly 2.8 million people. It is one of the fastest growing regions in the Midwest and is predicted to continue rapid growth; reaching 3 million by 2010.
Along with this huge growth, the make up of our region's population is undergoing major changes. By 2030, the number of people over age 65 is expected to reach more than double what it is today. Also, we are becoming a much more racially diverse community. Between 2000 and 2007, the region's Of Color population grew an estimated 28 percent, while the region’s White population remained virtually the same.
The number of people living in poverty is on the rise, especially among our youngest residents. In 2007, the poverty rate grew to 13.5 percent for children under age 5.
Another important trend is our region's suburban growth. The population in our urban counties -- Ramsey and Hennepin -- decreased or stayed about the same between 2000 and 2007. In contrast, the surrounding suburban counties grew anywhere from 8 percent to about 39 percent. If you scroll over the counties on the overview map, you can view the growth rates for each county.
In this section, we have data and charts that show the composition of our population. The More measures section provides some alternative sources of population estimates and forecasts.
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