CHAPTER 3.  POPULATION

"A population analysis of past, present and future trends in population including such characteristics as total population, age, sex and income.”

Text Box: BASIC DEMOGRAPHIC DATA – LEWISTON IDAHO 1990 Population: 28,082 1998 Estimate: 31,349 (City of Lewiston Estimate) Males: 13,718 (48.85%) Females: 14,364 (51.15%) Number of Households: 7,755 Married Couple Families: 6,488 Female Head of Household: 942 Over 65 Living Alone: 1,325 Per Capita Income: $12,828 Median Household Income: $25,711 Percent Below Poverty Level: 11.3% Persons Per Household: 2.4 Persons Per Square Mile: 1,712 Median Age: 35.3 years SOURCE: 1990 US CENSUS unless otherwise noted SOURCE: 1990 US Census unless otherwise noted

Text Box: I.          Background and History

Following its settlement in 1861 as a trade center serving the outlying gold fields, Lewiston grew to a population of 739 by 1880.  By 1930, the City had reached a population of 9,403 and continued growing to a population of 12,691 by 1960.  With the annexation of the Lewiston Orchards in 1969, the population increased dramatically in the 1970 Census to 26,068, more than doubling the 1960 population.  Since 1970, the population has grown more slowly, with a 1980 population of 27,986 and a 1990 population of 28,082.  The US Bureau of the Census provided a 1996 interim estimate for the City of Lewiston of 30,271, or at an annualized growth rate of 1.16%. Lewiston has grown to an estimated 1998 population of 31,349 using housing construction as a means of projecting current population.

Lewiston is the county seat of Nez Perce County and is, by far, the largest community in the County.  However, its percentage of County population has declined over the past decades, from a high in 1970 of 85.82% to 82.97% in 1990; a 1996 population estimate by the US Census Bureau indicates the decline has continued, although at a slower pace with a 1996 rate of 82.55 % of the population of Nez Perce County living within the City of Lewiston. 

 

YEAR

CITY POPULATION

COUNTY POPULATION

CITY AS % OF COUNTY

1970

26,068

30,374

85.82%

1980

27,986

33,152

84.42%

1990

28,082

33,754

83.20%

1996 (estimate)

30,271

36,670

82.55%

Source:  1970, 1980 and 1990 Census and 1996 Estimate by US Census Bureau

II.        Characteristics of the Population

Household size and makeup is an important component of the community.  Trends indicate household size is shrinking even as new households are being created.  Linked to this trend to a decrease in household size is an increase in the number of households with a single female as the head and an increase in the median age of the community.

YEAR

HOUSEHOLDS

PERSONS PER HOUSEHOLD

MEDIAN AGE

HOUSEHOLDS WITH FEMALE HEAD

1970

8,707

2.96

28

654

1980

11,515

2.56

30.9

879

1990

11,599

2.4

35.3

942

Source:  1970, 1980 and 1990 Census

The aging of the Lewiston population is documented in the following chart, showing a substantial decrease in the percentage of the population of school age and a substantial increase in the percent of the population 65 and older with a modest increase in the age group comprising the labor force (ages 18 to 64).  Nationally, the fastest growing age grouping is the over fifty range as the “baby boom” generation ages.  It is estimated that the number of persons over age 50 will make up a far greater proportion of the population of the United States in the year 2020 than in any other year in US history.

 

1970

 

1980

 

1990

 

 

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

5 & under

2,751

10.6%

2,390

8.5%

2,241

8.0%

6 to 17

6,488

24.9%

5,380

19.2%

4,592

16.4%

18 to 64

14,186

54.4%

16,574

59.2%

16,750

59.6%

65 & older

2,643

10.1%

3,642

13.0%

4,499

16.0%

Total

26,068

100.0%

27,986

100.0%

28,082

100.0%

Source:  1970, 1980 and 1990 US Census

Text Box:  

 
III.       Income and Employment

Median household income for the City of Lewiston, 1989, is $25,711.  Per capita income for 1989 is $12,828.

Household Income in 1989

Number of Households

Percent of Households

Total number of households

11,599

100%

Less than $5,000

724

6.24%

$5,000 to $9,999

1,372

11.83%

$10,000 to $14,999

1,382

11.91%

$15,000 to $24,999

2,167

18.68%

$25,000 to $34,999

2,080

17.93%

$35,000 to $49,999

2,069

17.84%

$50,000 to $74,999

1,293

11.15%

$75,000 to $99,999

299

2.58%

$100,000 to $149,999

143

1.23%

$150,000 or more

70

0.60%

Source:  1990 US Census

Income Type in 1989
Type of Income

Number of Households

Mean Income (1989$)

With wage and salary income

8,570

$28,705

With non-farm self employment income

1,477

$20,071

With farm self employment income

215

$$7,837

With social security income

3,507

$8,561

With public assistance income

596

$$3,143

With retirement income

1,888

$8,409

Source:  1990 US Census

One effect of the aging of the population discussed earlier is the increasing amount of personal income coming from transfer payments (which includes Social Security).  Nationally, such transfer payments are forecast to increase to 20.9% in 2020, up from 14.8% in 1990 and 10.3% in 1970.  In real dollar terms, these transfer payments are forecast to reach $1.8 trillion (in 1992 dollars) in 2020, up from $0.7 trillion in 1990. (Source:  Woods and Poole Economics, Nez Perce County, Idaho, 1997 Data Pamphlet)

Residence in ...

... 1975

Percent

... 1985

Percent

Persons 5 years and older

25,945

100%

26,272

100%

Lived in same house

12,515

48.24%

13,488

51.34%

Lived in different house in US

13,288

51.22%

12,600

47.96%

... same state

2,011

7.75%

8,805

33.56%

... same county

6,690

25.79%

6,169

23.48%

... different county

6,598

25.43%

2,636

10.03%

... different state

4,587

17.68%

3,795