Island’s growth rate hits low

Population growth has slowed during the first six months of 2008 to the smallest percentage this century, according to estimates based on detailed housing and condo construction data supplied by the city.

The island’s population grew from 23,080 at the end of 2007 to 23,180 at the end of this June, an increase of 0.43 percent. The only other growth rate under 1.80 percent occurred in 2002, when the economy slumped after the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy. The 2002 percentage of growth was 0.87. The highest population growth this century happened in 2001, when there was a 2.13 percent increase.

Kitsap County’s growth during 2000-08 ranged between 0.38 percent in 2005 to 1.25 percent in 2006. At the end of June, there were 246,800 people living in the county.