Cities battle for claim as third-most populous

POCATELLO, Idaho – Pocatello is battling Idaho Falls to be recognized as the state’s third-largest city, but both are likely to be upstaged by fast-growing Meridian.

A 2004 U.S. census estimate in July put Pocatello’s population at 50,582, just behind third-place Idaho Falls’ 52,148.

Instead of accepting those numbers, Pocatello city staff went to work, telephoning group living facilities such as the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center, Idaho State University dormitories, senior living quarters and boarding houses. They also carefully examined building permits and certificates of occupancy.

The result of 60 hours of research by two full-time workers, a part-time worker and an intern produced 2,328 previously uncounted Pocatello residents, which would bring the city’s population to 52,910 if the Census Bureau’s chief approves the update.

“It certainly confirms what we’ve thought – we’ve grown,” Pocatello Mayor Roger Chase told the Idaho State Journal. “We’re the third-largest city in the state again.”

However, Pocatello’s victory could also be short-lived. The state’s fifth-ranked city, Meridian, is listed at 44,962 on the 2004 census update. But growth in Meridian has been so rapid officials there say current projections place their population above 56,000, which would leave Pocatello and Idaho Falls in a fight for the No. 4 spot.

More than bragging rights are at stake. Additional population means extra revenue in Idaho, where the state awards cities money based on growth rate.

“If the census numbers are left as presented, we have a situation where our needs are growing and our funding is shrinking, and that’s unacceptable,” said Robert Chambers, Pocatello’s director of planning and development services. “To me, the message is simple: There is every reason in the world to have faith in this community’s future. When you look at the setbacks we face as a community, they’re not any different than what any other community has faced or will face, but I think to our credit, we bounce back and we bounce back quickly.”