New data from the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday show half of Montana counties reported more deaths than births from April 2020 to July 2021.
The population estimates show that 36 of 56 of Montana’s counties experienced a natural decrease in population with deaths outnumbering births. However, for the most part, enough people moved into those counties to offset those population losses.
Most Montana counties had a net increase in population during that period, and the state’s population grew overall by more than 20,000 people.
Nationwide, the census estimates also showed micro areas, including Kalispell and Bozeman, gained population from mid-2020 to mid-2021.
Micro areas are defined as having a core city of less than 50,000 residents, and Kalispell and Bozemen ranked number 2 and 3, respectively, in the nation for growth. That growth was driven mainly by people moving in.
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