According to recently released 2010 Census data, the middle Rio Grande region grew by 158,432 people over the past decade for a 2010 population of 897,146. The gain is the equivalent of adding a second Sandoval and Valencia County to the region, and represents a 21.4 percent increase in population since 2000. While Bernalillo County continues to dominate the region in terms of total population, it has been declining in share as we grow larger and consume more land.  In 1960 Bernalillo County represented 88 percent of the region’s population; by 2010 it accounts for just 74 percent.  The pattern of growth seen within the state of New Mexico over the decade can be characterized as metro-area focused with central New Mexico as a key beneficiary.  The MRCOG region contains three of the state’s five fastest growing counties over the decade: Sandoval County (46.3 percent), Bernalillo County (19.0 percent) and Valencia County (15.7 percent).  Bernalillo, Sandoval, and Valencia Counties combined captured two-thirds of the state’s growth, while 14 of New Mexico’s 33 counties lost population.

To access additional detail regarding growth in the MRCOG Region go to ‘Region & People’.