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Eugene Gains Population Bragging Rights

University of Oregon

Portland State University is out with its annual estimates of the population of Oregon's cities. The report highlights who gets bragging rights for being Oregon's second largest city, after Portland.

For years, Eugene residents had been secure in the knowledge that their city was bigger and better than Salem. Then last May radio listeners learned that they were just half right:

(Sound of radio newscaster:  Newly released estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show the city of Salem has slightly more people than the city of Eugene......)

Last spring the Census gave Salem the status of Oregon's second largest city. Now there's a report from Portland State University's Population Research Center with new estimates for the two cities. As always,

researcher Risa Proehl knew she would have to be careful with her estimate:

"I know that there is some kind of rivalry between Eugene and Salem, but I think it's just in fun."

So according to the Portland State estimates, which is the second biggest city in Oregon?

"It is Eugene."

Track Town beats the Cherry City 165-thousand to 162-thousand. Both P-S-U and the Census Bureau use similar methodologies.  They count new housing units, subtract demolitions and add in institutions. In Salem's case that means:

(Sound of prison doors shutting)

Salem has state prisons with four-thousand inmates and the number has been growing.

"Prisoners are counted in the city in which the prison is located."

Salem has also seen a sizable increase in state government employees in recent years.  In Eugene's case:

(Sound of Pomp and Circumstance)

What's contributed to population growth over the years is the strong and steady increase in enrollment at the University of Oregon.  Although the numbers have dipped recently, the university added six thousand students between 2000 and this year.

P-S-U researchers found something else interesting. Proehl says almost all the growth in Eugene in the past year has come from people moving here:

"Net migration follows the economy. During weaker economic times, people move around less and when the economy is stronger, then people are able to move around more."

Salem's growth is due more to what Proehl calls natural increase.  It has more families that Eugene.

State government uses these population estimates to determine how to distribute revenue to Oregon cities.