Pahrump Valley Times

The Pahrump population is dropping while Tonopah is growing, as Nye County as a whole experienced a second quarterly decline in population after the fourth quarter of 2012, according to estimates from the county planning department.

The countywide population as of Dec. 31, 2012 was estimated at 46,174, or 27 fewer than the third quarter which ended Sept. 30. The Pahrump population fell by 56 residents to 38,153 people.

The third quarter 2012 population figures were down 57 people countywide from the second quarter, after three straight quarters of population growth.

Pahrump was the main driver in population losses, which comprises 82.6 percent of the county population.

Tonopah, where a solar project is under construction, gained 30 residents in the fourth quarter, growing by 1 percent, from 2,935 to 2,965, according to county estimates, after a 1 percent population gain in the third quarter.

Beatty’s population stayed the same at 1,037 residents, Amargosa Valley also had a steady population, at 1,348 residents.

Smoky Valley lost four residents, it had 1,837 residents after the fourth quarter. Gabbs gained three residents, it had an estimated 361 people.

County planners use active residential customer data from various electrical utilities multiplied by the average number of persons per household as determined in the Census. The population of residents living in group quarters like nursing homes and detention facilities is estimated using a trending factor that is monitored on an annual basis with phone interviews.

The figures are used to assess baseline conditions for the Yucca Mountain project, prepare baseline projections for the county and its communities, used as a comparison with other estimates, and for public and private agency planning and management purposes.