SACRAMENTO – Among California cities under 300,000, Irvine ranked, in raw numbers, as the third-fastest growing in 2006, according to new population estimates released by the state on Tuesday.
State officials also estimate Irvine topped 200,000 people last year, making it just the 20th California city to exceed that mark. The most recent survey by the federal government put Irvine's population at 172,000. The state Department of Finance does its own population estimates to determine appropriate allocations to cities and counties for research and planning purposes.
Orange County as a whole ranked as one of the state's slowest growing counties, with a rate of just 0.9 percent compared with an overall state increase of 1.3 percent. In raw numbers, however, Orange County added the sixth most people, trailing only Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino and Santa Clara counties with an increase of about 26,000 people.
All Orange County cities covered by the finance report posted population increases, with Irvine (4.1 percent) and Seal Beach (1.8) leading the way and Laguna Hills, La Palma, Westminster, Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo and Lake Forest (all 0.3) in last.
The city of Beaumont in Riverside County posted the fastest growth rate – 21.2 percent. The fastest growing counties were Imperial (3.4 percent) and Riverside (3.3). Los Angeles County grew at rate of 0.7 percent.
By JEFF COLLINS
The Orange County Register

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