Ask Mr. Answer Person: "What is the population of the City of Decorah?"

A reader has asked Mr. Answer Person: "What is the population of the City of Decorah?"

The short answer, based on the results of the 2000 U.S. census, is that there are 8,172 people in Decorah.  The figure includes Luther College students.  Mr. Answer Person was unable to come up with Luther College's enrollment totals in 2000, but 2009 enrollment was 2,519.  Assuming three percent per year growth in enrollment each year over the past nine years, that would place 2000 Luther enrollment at right around 2,000.  That would mean there were 6,100 "townies" counted by the U.S. Census in 2000.

This reader did not ask, but might have been wondering, "When will the U.S. Census Bureau release the results from the 2010 Census?"

By law, the U.S. Census Bureau must deliver population information to the President by the end of December, 2010.  Also by law, the U.S. Census Bureau must complete the delivery of updated population statistics to states by the end of March, 2011.

The information will be vitally important to the City of Decorah and all other governmental agencies.  Many grants are based on population figures.  Electoral districts, such as Congressional districts, are formed using the updated Census information.

So, for now, the City of Decorah has 8,172 people.  But stay tuned--newer figures ought to be released soon.