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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Several Utah County cities are challenging Census population estimates this year, with four communities already succeeding in raising the figures.
The 2005 estimate puts Provo's population at 113,500, and the city contends it should be about 115,000.
American Fork succeeded in getting its 2005 estimate raised to 25,131 from 21,372. Salem went up to 5,519 from 4,725; Mapleton is now 7,001, up from 5,972; and Elk Ridge's estimate is 2,251, up from 1,926.
Most cities in Utah County have filed challenges at some point since the 2000 Census.
It's not that the U.S. Census Bureau is picking on Utah County, said Shawn Eliot, a transportation planner with the Mountainland Association of Governments. It's just that the demographics are unusual.
"Counties that have large student populations -- they have a harder time tracking their growth," Eliot said. "There is a flaw in their methodology when it comes to these areas. The only way they feel we can get around it is by challenging."
The state's high birth rate is also a factor, he said: "I don't know if they believe that we can actually do that."
Population estimates have widespread impacts. Part of the distribution of state sales taxes is based on population, for example. The estimates also influence road funding, and often businesses will use the information when considering whether to locate or expand a store in a particular area.
The Census Bureau uses Internal Revenue Service data for its estimates. That's a problem for high-student areas because students often file tax returns at their home address, not at school, or don't make enough money to file at all.
Last year, Provo managed to raise its 2004 population estimate to 112,000 from 99,000,
Census officials also have had to bump up the overall estimated population of Utah County over the years.
The 2004 estimate of 403,000 was increased to 435,000. The estimate for 2005 of 443,000 also may be low, Eliot said.
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Information from: The Daily Herald, http://www.heraldextra.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
