South Dakota's population is growing.
Is it good news or bad?
The U.S. Census Bureau last month reported that the state grew by 1.6 percent from July 2007 to July 2008 and for the first time surpassed 800,000.
That growth is the equivalent of 8,505 people moving into the state in that 12-month period. It's like adding another Spearfish, a town of about 8,600 people.
We're the 16th fastest growing state in the nation, the Census Bureau reports. Our rate also surpassed most neighboring states, except Wyoming and Montana.
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Again, good news or bad?
It depends on the point of view.
First, the growth that is reported by the Census Bureau is mostly due to births, which means the state isn't experiencing a boost due to some sort of migrant immigration.
A larger population certainly shall eventually pay dividends in a larger tax base. In future years, population growth could mean more people to shoulder the load for, say, road repairs.
If births continue to rise in the state, our small towns -- many of which have been decimated by population loss in recent years -- could conceivably have a somewhat brighter future.
Of course, the growth in this state likely shall remain focused on the extreme eastern and western corridors, namely the Black Hills and Sioux Falls. While growth is good news for the state, population spikes near South Dakota's borders tend to mask the real trouble: that small towns are shrinking.
It's been said Sioux Falls grows at the expense of the rest of the state. We tend to believe it.
And we figure many South Dakotans don't want much growth. Many take pride in our low population ranking, which remains at No. 46 in the nation.
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The apparent good news -- i.e. growth in South Dakota -- should not divert our attention from our continuing population problems.
So as we hear that the state's population is on the rise, we hope people don't take this news as all good.
Whereas extreme eastern and western South Dakota appears healthy, middle South Dakota could be in trouble.
