The release of 2011 Canadian census data Wednesday showed population levels holding steady in Greater Trail, with the highest increase in Rossland.
The Golden City’s population jumped up by 8.5 per cent – to 3,556 in 2011 from 3,278 n 2006 – while Trail followed suit with an approximate six per cent increase to 7,681 people living in the city last year, compared to 7,237 in 2006.
Rossland Mayor Greg Granstrom said it’s a combination of factors that is driving population up, including new employment opportunity.
“But I do know that there may be something in the water because I see a lot of young ladies with children, there’s no doubt about it,” he laughed.
Birthrates at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital have shown a steady incline over the past five years, with 281 babies born at the Trail hospital in 2011 from 242 in 2010, according to Interior Health spokesperson Karl Hardt,
But Granstrom wouldn’t hold the results to young families alone.
“I think Rossland itself has a reputation as a very nice place to live with an excellent lifestyle and I think people gravitate to Rossland for those reasons,” he said.
Other municipalities in Greater Trail showed little change from its standing in the last census.
Fruitvale shot up 3.3 per cent to 2,016 residents from 1,952; Montrose sailed to a 1.8 per cent hike up to 1,030 from 1,012 while Warfield sank by 1.7 per cent to 1,700 from 1,729. Overall the Kootenay Boundary district population rose 1.3 per cent to 31,138 residents.
More census data will be released throughout the year based on information gathered including age, sex and marital status.
