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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The demographics which govern city planning are important because the planning done to make a community viable needs to be done on behalf of the people who live there.
Nephi's General Plan update was adopted by the city council on September20, 2011. Randy McKnight, city administrator, was asked by Mayor Mark Jones to continue to provide on-going education for the council on just what is included in the plan.
Tuesday evening at council meeting, McKnight discussed Chapter 3 of the plan which provides a demographic profile of the community. A demographic provides enough information about a typical member of a group to create a mental picture of a hypothetical aggregate. Researchers typically have as a goal to create a clear and complete picture of the characteristics of a typical member of each segment of the community.
Those wishing to review the recently adopted Nephi City General Plan should go to www.nephi.utah.gov/ and click on the General Plan typed in blue located below the photo of the 2011 Christmas Parade.
"According to Census 2010 data, Nephi City had a median age of 30.2 compared to 27.5 in 2000," said McKnight, "which indicates an aging population."
Juab County's median age also increased from 26.5 in 2000 to 29.3 in 2010, and the Utah median age increased from 27.1 in 2000 to 29.2 years in 2010. Nephi City's median age is slightly higher than both the Juab County and Utah's median age, but significantly lower than the national median age of 37.2.
Juab County has a slightly larger percent of its population under the age of 29, while Nephi City has a slightly larger percent of its population over the age of 29.
"Nephi City has a unique demographic, as its population under the age of 17 and over the age of 60 makes up a larger percent of its population when compared to the State," said McKnight. "Both Nephi City and Juab County have a smaller percentage of population between the ages of 18 and 29 years, suggesting an out-migration of these individuals to attend college or find entry-level employment opportunities outside of the community."
Utah is unique because of its young median age and its large household sizes. The national average household size is 2.58 persons, while Utah's average household size is 3.10.2 According to Census 2010 data, Nephi City's average household size is 3.13, just slightly higher than the State's average. Juab County's average household size in 2010 is 3.27.
In addition to the general plan, several other detailed master plans are being created by the city and are resources that can be consulted for more information. The resources available are: Storm Water Drainage Master Plan; Airport Master Plan; Electric Substation and Transmission Master Plan; Recreation Facility Master Plan; Water System Master Plan; Waste Water System Master Plan.
"Nephi is a community that values its rural-town character and lifestyle and desires to continue a quality rural environment as it plans for growth and fosters economic vitality in the future," he said.
Nephi makes up 53 percent of the population of Juab County.
Based on Census 2010 data, Nephi City has a population of 5,389 people compared to 4,733 people ten years prior.
"Household size in Nephi City has decreased slightly over the past ten years from 3.24 in the 2000 Census to 3.13 in 2010 Census," he said.
Nephi City grew at an average annual rate of 1.3 percent over the past ten years compared to an annual growth rate of 2.2 percent for Juab County.
Both Nephi City and Juab County have lower growth rates than bordering Utah County, which has an average annual growth rate of 3.4 percent.
However, Utah County has one of the most rapid growth rates in the nation, and both Juab County and Nephi City are still experiencing higher-than-average growth rates compared to the national average growth rate over the past ten years of 0.93 percent.
Millard County (located immediately south of Juab County) grew at an average annual rate of only .08 percent from 2000 to 2010, while the State of Utah also experienced rapid growth, averaging a growth rate of 2.15 percent from 2000 to 2010.
Juab County Population Growth 2000-2010: Juab County 8,238 to 10,246; Eureka City 766 to 669; Levan Town 688 to 841; Mona City 850 to 1,547; Nephi City 4,733 to 5,389; Rocky Ridge 403 to 733; Santaquin City 0
to 8 (The majority of Santaquin is in Utah County.); Balance of Juab County 798 to 1,059.
Because of the recent market downturn, projecting future growth in Nephi City becomes somewhat uncertain. Nephi City is projected by the GOPB (Governor's Office of Planning and Budget) to reach a population of 21,489 in 2060, while Juab County is projected to reach a population of 38,446. Nephi would then include 56 percent of the County's population.
According to American Community Survey (ACS) data, (5-year estimate in 2009 inflation-adjusted dollars) households in Nephi City had a median household income of $47,389. In comparison, the Juab County median household income was $50,360, and Utah's median household income was $55,642.
"This data suggests that on average, incomes in Juab County are approximately 85 percent of incomes statewide," he said.
However, the cost of living (especially evident in median home prices) is less in Juab County, thereby mitigating some of the impacts of the lower incomes.
From a regional perspective, Juab County is considered to be part of the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Nephi City has a higher percentage of households with incomes below $25,000 and a lower percentage of households with incomes above $50,000 when compared to the state.
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