April 22, 2007 for Utah.  Click HERE for Utah Taxpayers’ Association Blog on “Tax Freedom Day.”

Since moving to Pleasant Grove thirteen years ago, my family and I have seen PG (Pleasant Grove) and the population of the surrounding communities, “growing like weeds.”  PG now touts a population of 31,000 (Click HERE for Daily Herald news article), Cedar Hills to the north is nearly 10,000, and the portion of AF (American Fork) represented in House District 57 is inhabited by approximately 8,000 residents.  All totaled, District 57 has a population of nearly 50,000 people–and growing.  This population growth trend is not uncommon for many areas throughout our state.

Why do I bring this up?  Each House District, as they were constructed from the 2000 census were approximately 30,000 residents back then.  And, reapportionment won’t take place for another three years–following the 2010 census.

Rep Ken Sumsion and I were counting heads out in his District 56, he figures Lehi, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain has about 80,000 residents (plus or minus) which was the size of a Senate District back in 2000.  District 27 represented by Rep. John Dougall (Highland, Alpine, AF, East Lehi) has seen similar growth patterns.

MAG (Mountainland Association of Governments) a policy and think tank group based in Orem, has estimated the current population of Utah County at about 450,000 residents and claims we’ll see that number grow to 750,000 by 2025.  This creates and interesting dynamic when it comes to political “power shifting.”  With Salt Lake County becoming more Democrat or Republican-moderate in their population, and with the increase in young conservative families populating Northern and Southern Utah County, the 2010 census should yield a number of seat shifts in the Utah State House of Representatives during the next decade.

Just an interesting observation–from a tree hugger.