Story County is Iowa’s third-fastest-growing county by percent, according to statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Each year, the bureau releases population estimates for the 3,142 counties that make up the United States. The statistics are based on births, deaths and migration.

Story County’s population increased by an estimated 3,000 people, a 3.8 percent increase, from April 2000 to July 2003.

Natural rates of about 3,000 births and about 1,400 deaths resulted in a change of approximately 1,500 persons.

Migration, both within the United States and from foreign countries contributed the remaining population change. The statistics for Story County show a gain of 1,900 residents from foreign countries and a loss of 400 residents to moves within the country.

The large number of residents migrating from foreign countries is due to Iowa State, said Margie Hanson, assistant scientist in the Office of Social and Economic Trend Analysis. “I think the college is a big part of it,” she said.

However, Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco said international growth in the general population, particularly Story County’s Latino community, should also be considered. Ames is a big part of the county’s growth because the county is predominantly rural, Tedesco said.

“I would suspect that growth is primarily in the immediate Ames area,” he said.

Tedesco said he expects Story County, especially Ames, to continue growing because of the university and geographical proximity to Des Moines. He said although stresses are put on the city, he would rather face growth pains than those associated with decline.

“I think that it’s certainly a better position to be a growing community,” he said.

Of Iowa’s 99 counties, 68 showed losses from 2000 to 2003. Hanson agreed Story County’s position is a positive sign.

“The fact that Story County is one of relatively few growing counties in the state is a good thing,” Hanson said.

Hanson said more rural counties have been experiencing declining populations since the 1980s. The decline will continue unless a dramatic economic change occurs, she said.

The numbers also show growth in metro urban areas versus decline in rural areas, she said. In the future, the overall trend will be continued growth of the urban population centers, including cities such as Ames, she said.

The four fastest growing counties were all urban population centers. Dallas is the fastest growing Iowa county at 13.2 percent and is followed by Johnson at 4.1 percent, Story at 3.8 percent and Polk at 3.7 percent.

Dallas County also had the distinction of being named the 74th-fastest-growing county in the nation.

Hanson said overall, the state is growing slowly, making Dallas County’s ranking especially impressive.