There are some 106,000 people currently living in the City of Meridian, according to the latest population estimates.
Board members of COMPASS –- the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho -- accepted the 2018 population estimates for both Ada and Canyon Counties at its meeting Monday.
The estimates reflect significant growth throughout the Boise valley –- with Meridian standing out with a significant milestone: surpassing a population of 100,000.
“In 1990, the City of Meridian had a population of less than 10,000,” stated COMPASS Principal Planner and demographer Carl Miller. “Today, we estimate a population of 106,410 -– a leap of more than ten-fold in 28 years, making it one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.”
While the City of Meridian has reached a significant milestone, it is not the only city in the region to experience noteworthy growth. Nampa is close to the 100,000 mark at 98,370 -– it will likely top 100,000 by 2019, experts say -- while Caldwell surpassed 50,000 in 2015 and Eagle surpassed 25,000 in 2016.
Boise also continues to grow steadily, reaching 232,300 this year. The total population for Ada and Canyon Counties combined is estimated at 688,110 as of April 1st of this year.
COMPASS updates it population estimates as of April 1st of each year, using the most recent decennial Census count (2010) as the base. Building from this, COMPASS says it updates the information using local building construction permits, revised household sizes and vacancy rates, and recent annexations (expansions of city limits). COMPASS will update its “baseline” data again following the 2020 Census.
