POPULATION GROWTH SLOWS AGAIN IN L.A.Byline: Harrison Sheppard Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO - Growth in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County slowed again last year as coastal Californians fled for more affordable areas inland, new population figures released Monday show. The county's population grew by just 1.32 percent in 2004 - below the state average of 1.67 percent - while Riverside County ballooned 4.45 percent to lead the state. High median home prices and declining Latino birth rates were among the factors analysts cited for the slower growth rate in Los Angeles County - which grew by 1.38 percent in 2003 and 1.96 percent in 2000. ``Los Angeles County is a real draw for people who come in from outside the country and the state,'' said Mary Heim, head of the state Department of Finance's demographic research unit. ``Then it's like a fountain: From Los Angeles County, they flow out to other counties.'' Long-term projections show Los Angeles County's growth rate will drop to an average of only 0.4 percent annually over the next 50 years, as birth rates continue to slow and eventually more people move out of the county than into it, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the department. County population grew by 132,309 people last year, to 10,179,716 residents - more than the combined total of the next four most populous counties. But its growth rate ranked just 32nd among the state's 58 counties. Ventura County's population grew by 1.46 percent, reaching 811,505 people. Ventura is the state's 11th most populous county, and it ranked No. 28 in terms of growth rate. California's population overall grew by 1.67 percent, to 36,590,814 people. According to the state's long-term projections, California is expected to have 54.8 million people by 2050 - an annual growth rate of 1.2 percent until then. Los Angeles County is projected to have 11.4 million people, a growth rate of 0.4 percent. Heim said several factors are driving the growth pattern. One is the difference in real-estate prices between coastal and inland California. The median price of a home in Los Angeles County was $463,450 as of December, while it was $327,210 in Riverside and San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. counties, according to the California Association of Realtors. The median was $612,460 in Ventura County and $474,480 statewide. ``It really has exacerbated the affordability crisis in California,'' said Leslie Appleton-Young, chief economist The Chief Economist is a single position job class having primary responsibility for the development, coordination, and production of economic and financial analysis. It is distinguished from the other economist positions by the broader scope of responsibility encompassing the with the California Association of Realtors. ``One way to address it is to look at condos. Another way is to look at neighborhoods that have been abandoned and reclaimed. Look downtown. Look at loft development. ``Another way is to look farther and farther out farther out Of or relating to an option contract with a later expiration date than a contract that is currently owned or being considered. For example, a contract with a May expiration date is farther out than a contract with a February expiration date of and endure longer commutes. Another option is to leave the state.'' Heim said another factor is that birth rates are slowing, particularly among Latinos, who make up a significant percentage of Los Angeles County's population. Greater numbers of Latino females are reaching higher levels of education and career status, both of which tend to match a drop in fertility rates, she said. Fertility rates have also been dropping in Dropping in is a skateboarding trick with which a skateboarder can start skating a half-pipe by dropping into it from the coping instead of starting from the bottom and pumping gradually for more speed. Mexico, she said. As Los Angeles County's school-age population drops and work force size remains nearly stagnant, the population is getting older on average. Enrollment dropped by 12,000 students in first through eighth grades from the previous year, while the senior citizen population grew by 8,000, according to Finance Department senior demographer de·mog·ra·phy n. The study of the characteristics of human populations, such as size, growth, density, distribution, and vital statistics. [French démographie : Greek Linda Gage. The labor force increased by only 2,000. Since 1999, the county has added 785,000 people, although each year the amount of growth has decreased. The high prices have yet to stem demand. In fact, they are driven by the continually high demand, which itself is fueled by low interest rates, said Jim Link, executive vice president of the Southland Regional Association of Realtors. ``The (San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. ) Valley has experienced a very strong price appreciation over the last two to three years,'' Link said. ``If there is an out-migration, it's price-driven. The median in the Valley hovers at around $480,000, and that's a fairly hefty price. So if someone can't afford that, certainly they're going to look at outlying areas. ``However, the market's been extremely strong. The supply can't keep up with the demand. There's a strong demand in the Valley even with the high prices.'' Dowell Myers Dowell Myers is a professor of urban planning and demography in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development, at the University of Southern California (USC). He directs the school’s Population Dynamics Research Group, whose recent projects have been funded by the National , a professor of urban planning urban planning: see city planning. urban planning Programs pursued as a means of improving the urban environment and achieving certain social and economic objectives. and demography demography (dĭmŏg`rəfē), science of human population. Demography represents a fundamental approach to the understanding of human society. at the University of Southern California The U.S. News & World Report ranked USC 27th among all universities in the United States in its 2008 ranking of "America's Best Colleges", also designating it as one of the "most selective universities" for admitting 8,634 of the almost 34,000 who applied for freshman admission , said immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. to the state - especially to Los Angeles - has slowed because immigrants are becoming more aware of other parts of the country that are attractive and less expensive. At first the decline was sparked by the recession of the early 1990s, he said, but after the economy improved, immigrants did not come in the same numbers they had during the previous decade, as they had learned of places with cheaper housing and better jobs in other parts of the country. ``California doesn't have the same appeal it once had,'' Myers said. ``Our studies show there has been a turnaround in California immigration, and the immigrants are now spreading out across America.'' Harrison Sheppard, (916) 446-6723 harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): map Map: POPULATION GROWTH SOURCE: California Department of Finance The California Department of Finance is located in Sacramento, California. It is responsible resource allocation for the state’s annual financial plan. As part of the executive branch of the state, it is within the fold of the governor of California's administration. Warren Huskey/Staff Artist |
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