HELENA — State officials estimate that Montana’s population has surpassed 1 million people for the first time.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s office said Tuesday that state Census and Economic Information Center officials believe Montana passed the milestone sometime between November and December.
“Montana is starting the new year off with a bang,” Schweitzer said. “People from all over the world recognize that Montana is the best place to start and grow a small business, raise a family and build a community.”
Schweitzer’s office says the estimate is based on growth trends between the 2000 and 2010 Census counts, along with recent population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau and two other independent analyses.
The 2010 Census put Montana’s population at 989,415, a 9.7 percent increase from 2000. Census data shows the rate at which Montana’s population grew was faster during the middle of the last decade but has slowed in recent years. Surpassing one million does not have any significant impacts on funding or other statewide programs.
If the state has passed the 1 million mark, that leaves just Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming as states having fewer than a million people.
Schweitzer also announced that he is starting the “Governor Schweitzer’s One in a Million” scholarship fund for Montana kids born between December 25, 2011 and January 1, 2012, who will go on to study math or science at a unit of the Montana University System.
“This is a gift for the future,” Schweitzer said. “I believe one of the best things we can do is help further the education of Montana students. I’m starting with a $1,000 donation and challenge other Montana individuals or businesses to donate the same.”