VANCOUVER — Washington’s fastest growing city is in southwest Washington about 25 miles north of Portland, Oregon.
The Columbian reported about 500 new residents moved to Ridgefield between July 2013 and the same month last year, amounting to about 9 percent population growth.
Washington Employment Security Department regional economist Scott Bailey says small towns usually have high rights of growth. Ridgefield is continuing a trend that’s been going on for years due to the availability of land and inexpensive housing.
Mayor Ron Onslow says the impact is being felt at schools that are struggling with capacity issues.
U.S. Census Bureau statistician Sarah Gibb says small-town America is less populous than it was half a century ago, but recently has been seeing a small boost.
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