New population estimates released by the United States Bureau of the Census show gains in Iowa’s population for the 11th straight year, something duplicated in both Washington County and Kalona.

Estimates show the state population at 2,862,447, an increase of 85,616 (or 3.1 percent) since the 1990 census. For Washington County, the population estimate as of July 1, 1998 is 20,967 a gain of 1,355 (or 6.9 percent) since April 1, 1990.

Just slightly more than one-fourth of that population gain is in Kalona where estimates show a jump of 342 in population or 17.6 percent, the largest in the county and one of the largest for the state.

Census figures for April 1, 1990 put Kalona’s population at 1,942. It jumped to 2,032 the next year and has gained steadily ever since, averaging 50 more residents annually for an estimate of 2,284 (a jump of 342 in estimated population) as of July 1, 1998.

Numerically, the second highest gain for the same time period was the City of Washington, with 230 or 3.3 percent. Estimates show Washington going from 7,074 as of April 1, 1990 to an estimated 7,304 as of July 1, 1998.

Percentage-wise, though, the nearest to Kalona is Riverside with an estimated increase of 11.7 percent (a gain of 96 residents). Riverside had 824 residents April 1, 1990 and an estimated 920 July 1, 1998. It means that Riverside has averaged a gain of 12 additional residents for the last eight years.

Ainsworth has the next highest percentage, 8.9 percent, going from 506 in 1990 to 551 in 1998, a gain of 45 residents or nearly six per year.

Although West Chester is next with 8.4 percent (going from 178 in 1990 to 193 in 1998), the gain is 15, fewer than two per year.

Wellman’s 8.4 percent means an increase of 74, going from 1,085 in 1990 to 1,159 in 1998. It means Wellman gained an average of at least nine new residents per year.

Both Brighton and Crawfordsville had the same numerical gain, 14. However, for Brighton the increase represents 2.0 percent (going from 684 in 1990 to 698 in 1998). In Crawfordsville it is a 5.3 percent gain (going from 265 in 1990 to 279 in 1998).

Interestingly, for Washington County, the 6.9 percent increase is the same as Johnson County. However, in Johnson County, population went from 96,119 in 1990 to the estimated 102,724 in 1998, a gain of 6,605. More than 17 percent of Johnson County’s increase is in Iowa City, 1,162 (going from 59,735 in 1990 to 60,897 in 1998).

In all, 51 counties gained population and 48 lost residents. Counties with ten percent or more increases since 1990 are Dallas (24.0 percent), Benton (13.3 percent), Warren (11.6 percent), Madison (11.1 percent) and Polk (10 percent).