III. Community Demographics and Economic Profile

A. Population Trends

The population of the Humboldt/Del Norte Region is slowly but steadily growing. The California Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit projected that between 1990 and 1995, the population in this area grew to a total of 158,256, a 11.2% increase. Growth in the two county areas is not even, however. Humboldt County’s population grew from 116,215 in 1990 to a projected level of 127,550 in 1995, a total increase of 9.7%. In comparison, Del Norte County grew from 24,261 in 1990 to 30,706 in 1995, a 26.5% increase. The State of California’s population grew 8% during the same time period. The region’s population represents roughly .5% of the California’s total population.

Table 3.1 shows the rate of growth by individual subareas within the two county region. Exhibit 3.1 shows the proportion of population in each subarea and how it has grown in the past ten years. Eureka is the largest incorporated city in the region with an estimated population of 27,600. Of this population increase, natural increase (births minus deaths) added 3,839 (43% of the increase) and net migration added 5,011 (57% of the increase).¹ This increase contrasts with California during the same period when 90% of the population increase was attributed to natural increase and only 10% to net migration. (Note: During this period, California as a whole experienced an unusual pattern of out-migration attributed largely to the economic recession of the time.)² The Humboldt/Del Norte region is expected to grow at the same pace in the next twenty years, with Del Norte County growing at a faster pace than Humboldt County. Interim county projections estimate area growth as depicted in Table S3.1-1 below.

Exhibit 3.1: Population Distribution

Source: U.S. Census, 1990, CA Department of Finance, 1995

Table S3.1-1: Humboldt and Del Norte Population Increase Projections

Year Humboldt County Change from 1995 Del Norte County Change from 1995 Two-County Region Change from 1995 2000 130,500   31,800   162,300   2010 143,900   41,600   185,500   2020 156,500 23% 51,300 67% 207,800 31%

Source: California Department of Finance, Interim County Population Projections

The age distribution of the Humboldt/Del Norte population is displayed in Exhibit 3.2. The population structure roughly mirrors that of California as a whole. The percentage of children under the age of 18 is nearly identical, with Humboldt/Del Norte at 22.4% and California at 22.3%. The percentage of adults between the ages of 18-64 is slightly lower in the region, with Humboldt/Del Norte at 65.3% and California at 67.1%. The population over the age of 65 is slightly higher in Humboldt/Del Norte at 12.3% vs. 10.4% for the state as a whole. The Sex and Age Distribution of the region is displayed in Exhibit 3.3 on page 8 and is unremarkable. Exhibit S3.3-1, on page 7 provides an additional method for viewing age and sex distribution for the region. Both the regional and California "pyramids" are typical of a developed nation, characterized by a lower birth rate, "baby boom" bulge and a growing older population.

Exhibit 3.2: Age Distribution

Source: U.S. Census, 1990

Exhibit 3.3: Sex & Age Distribution

Source: U.S. Census, 1990

The ethnic/racial composition of Humboldt/Del Norte Counties differs significantly from the State of California as shown in Exhibit 3.4. In Humboldt/Del Norte Counties in 1995, 84.5% of the population were non-Hispanic Whites, 6.1% were Hispanic, 5.5% were Native American, 2.3% were Asian/Pacific Islanders and only 1.6% were African American. In contrast, the composition for California in 1995 was 53.6% non-Hispanic Whites, 28.4% Hispanics, 7.0% African American, 10.4% Asian/Pacific Islander, and .6% Native American. Within the region, there are also some variations of ethnic/racial composition. Del Norte County has the highest percentage of Hispanics in the region at 10.1% and a lower percentage of non-Hispanic Whites at 78.9%. The Eastern Humboldt subarea has the highest percentage of Native Americans at 48.0% and the lowest percentage of non-Hispanic Whites at 48.3%. The other subareas are very similar in composition, characterized by high percentages of non-Hispanic Whites.

Exhibit 3.4: Population by Ethnicity/Race

Source: CA Department of Finance, Race/Ethnic Estimates of Counties, 1995

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