It is an exciting time to live in Humboldt.
According to the 2011 Federal Census, Humboldt is the second fastest growing city in Saskatchewan after Martensville and Warman.
The city has grown from 4,998 people to 5,678 since the 2006 census - a 13.6 per cent increase in population, placing the city 14th in population size in the province.
"It's roughly what we've expected," said Mayor Malcolm Eaton. "We knew there was a significant level of increase there."
The numbers show a dramatic change from the last census. In 2007, the Journal reported that the population decreased from 5,161 to 4,998, a 3.2 per cent decrease. That year only Regina and Saskatoon showed an increase in population throughout the province.
In 2001, the Town of Humboldt was one of only two towns in the region to show an increase in population, growing by 87 people to 5,161, which was a 1.71 per cent increase.
According to the 2011 census, private dwellings in the city have increased from 2,343 in 2006 to 2,567 and the city has grown from 11.72 square kilometres to 13.46 square kilometres. Population density has decreased from 426.4 per square kilometre to 421.9 per square kilometre.
It is exciting to see how much Humboldt has grown, said Eaton.
"One of the important parts of the census is that it is what all of our funding grants are based on," said Eaton. "It's probably an increase of $50,000 in the municipal operating grant as well as the federal gas tax program so it certainly means some increased funding through the grant programs for us over the next four years."
Eaton is also glad so many people remembered to fill out the census this year.
"We feel we've got a fairly accurate number," said Eaton. "The local census representative has indicated to us that they felt there were very few residents that did not fill out their census.
"That's a credit to the census workers and we appreciated the support that everybody gave to the census."
