By Pat Minelli, Correspondent

The housing-market slump in the Twin Cities area is well known, but Savage gained 767 residents – an increase of 2.9 percent – between July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The increase pushed Savage’s estimated population to 27,692. Savage is Scott County’s second-largest city.

The city of Shakopee gained 754 residents — an increase of 2.3 percent. The 2.3 percent increase pushed Shakopee’s 2008 population to an estimated 33,455, which is the largest city in the county.Prior Lake grew by 487 in the one-year period, or by 2.1 percent, to 23,836. Jordan’s population grew by 166 to 5,445, an increase of 3.1 percent. Belle Plaine had 6,648 inhabitants, a gain of 343 from the previous year.

The growth rate of the southwest metropolitan area between 2000 and 2008 continues to be astounding, although it has slowed in the past couple of years.

Savage grew by just over 28 percent in the eight-year period, from 21,607 to 27,692.

Shakopee grew from 21,084 in 2000 to 33,455 on July 1 last year — an increase of 12,371, or by nearly 59 percent. Prior Lake’s population increased by 46 percent between 2000 and 2008, from 16,322 to 23,836.

The Census Bureau also reported that the population of Minneapolis remained about the same — statistically — with 382,605, while St. Paul dipped by 2.5 percent to 279,950.  

Pat Minelli can be reached at editor@shakopeenews.com.