Birthrates in the United States have reached a historic low, with women having an average of 1.6 children in their lifetime. However, while some states have seen significant reductions in population growth, others are seeing their populations boom.

Since 2020, one of the fastest growing states in the U.S. has been Idaho, increasing by 6.2 percent between 2020 and 2023, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This represents a rise from 1,849,339 in July 2020 to 1,964,726 in July 2023. However, this growth has not been even across the state.

The map below shows which Idaho counties are growing the fastest:

The fastest population growth was seen in Camas County, with a 14 percent increase between 2020 and 2023. This was followed by Boundary County at 12 percent. Tied for third place was Adams County, Boise County, Bonner County, and Canyon County, with an 11 percent growth rate.

So, what might be driving these increases?

According to researchers at the University of Idaho, more than a quarter of the state’s growing population are new to the state. By analyzing vehicle registration and license surrender data from the Idaho Transportation Department between 2011 and 2021, the team found that nearly half a million Idaho residents had moved to the state in the last decade.

“We’re not in the middle of nowhere anymore,” Jaap Vos, a professor in the College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho who focuses on planning, said in a statement on the university’s website in 2022. “We’re actually in the middle of all the action. If you look at the numbers, you can see we are getting new people coming in constantly.”

According to the Idaho Department of Labor in March 2023, net migration into the state accounted for 88 percent of Idaho’s population growth between 2021 and 2022, the majority of which were U.S. citizens moving in from other states. The remaining 12 percent was from natural change when birth rates overweigh deaths.

While Idaho is seeing this influx of new people, many longstanding Idaho residents have been increasingly moving elsewhere, resulting in a significant reshaping of Idaho’s demographics.

According to a January interview with Matthew Hurt, an economist at the Idaho Division of Financial Management, with the Idaho Statesman, two thirds of Idaho’s predicted revenue growth through the 2028 fiscal year will be added through migration, with as many as one third of migration in Southwest Idaho coming from California.

For every Idaho family that moves to California, Idaho gets three back, Hurt added.

“California totally dominates the net migration story, and it really is because Californians come to Idaho,” he said. “Idahoans don’t really go to California.”

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — — Kobe Tracy passed for 425 yards and three touchdowns, Jeff Weimer has 12 receptions for 236 yards and a TD and Gabe Panikowski kicked a 24-yard field goal as time expired Saturday night to help Idaho State beat Cal Poly 41-38.

Christian Fredericksen caught nine passes for 120 yards and a touchdown for Idaho State (3-3, 1-1 Big Sky Conference) and Dason Brooks scored on a 3-yard run that gave the Bengals a three-point lead with 11:16 to play. Cal Poly (2-3, 1-1) responded with a 10-play, 57-yard drive that stalled out at the 8 and the Mustangs settled for a 26-yard field goal by Noah Serna to make it 38-all.

Weimer fumbled on the Idaho State’s ensuing possession but Cal Poly failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 from the Bengals 23 with about 3 minutes to play. Idaho State used a 30-yard pass from Tracy to Fredericksen to set up Panikowski’s winning field goal.

Watts finished with 18 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns for Cal Poly. Michael Briscoe caught a 19-yard pass from Tracy to open the scoring and added a 19-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Tracy and Weimer connected on a 84-yard throw-and-catch for a touchdown that gave Idaho State a 17-7 lead going into the second quarter.

Jake East returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown that gave Cal Poly a 21-17 with about 4 minutes left in the first half.

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1 of 2 | Nicholas Umphenour, who was convicted of shooting two Idaho corrections officers while helping a prisoner make a daring escape in March, received a sentence of life in prison this week with no chance of parole for 40 years. Photo courtesy of the City of Boise

Umphenour previously pleaded guilty to three counts of assault or battery on law enforcement and one count each of unlawful possession of a firearm, and use of a firearm in a crime as well as one lesser charge.

The 29-year-old in March helped plan and carry out the escape of prisoner Skylar Meade on March 20.

Meade was being transferred to the Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho for treatment when a then-unknown suspect began shooting at Idaho Department of Corrections officers.

Two officers were shot by the suspect, while a third was hit in the confusion by bullets fired by a responding police officer.

Authorities later identified Umphenour as the accomplice, leading to a manhunt.

Umphenour and Meade were captured a day later in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Meade, who officials say has affiliations with white supremacist gangs, had been incarcerated since October 2016 after convictions for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a firearm enhancement.

Meade received a life sentence with parole eligibility after 35 years for his part in the escape.

In June, authorities charged Meade and Umphenour with murder in the death of an 83-year-old man whose body was found near Leland, Idaho. Officials believe Meade and Umphenour killed the elderly man while on the run.

They continue to investigate the death of a second 72-year-old man which they believe may have involved the two fugitives.

The judge on Friday cited Umphenour’s total disregard for human life in handing down the prison sentence.

During the proceedings, the court heard a recorded phone call made by Umphenour to his step-mother.

“It doesn’t bother me what kind of animal is that. It doesn’t bother me one bit and I know it should,” Umphenour said in reference to shooting the corrections officers.

“You are a persistent violator. You are a career criminal,” Baskin told the court, adding the 40-year-period of parole ineligibility was primarily to protect the public from Umphenour.