The Haines Borough’s population grew by 10 people last year, and recently-released state statistics indicate the municipality also retained its title as the oldest town in Alaska.
Haines earned the oldest town distinction last year with a median age of 48. This year, it increased to 48.5, according to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
After losing 86 residents between July 2012 and July 2013, Haines bounced back slightly and gained back 10 residents by July 2014. That puts the current population at 2,537.
Haines’ aging population last year sparked local discussions about the senior property tax exemption and how more qualified applicants would affect the borough’s revenue stream.
Keeping with the town’s trend, Haines saw more deaths than births last year. The department reported 18 births and 21 deaths from 2013-2014.
“Death rates are a little bit higher (than the rest of the state), and birth rates are lower,” said state demographer Eddie Hunsinger.
Data shows that Haines is a very transient place, with about 200 people moving in and 200 moving out per year, Hunsinger said.
“A lot more people are moving to and from Haines. It balances pretty close to zero from year to year,” he said.
Hunsinger said the state’s methodology when determining yearly population estimates relies primarily on the latest decennial census and Permanent Fund Dividend applications. By comparing who applied for the PFD from Haines in 2013 but not in 2014, and similarly looking at who didn’t apply in 2013 but did in 2014, the state can roughly track migration.
“You can see the turnover,” Hunsinger said.
Demographers have repeatedly said Haines’ population isn’t expected to significantly grow any time soon.
“Over the next few years – going out to 2020 – we project some very slight increase. Really, very little change,” Hunsinger said. “After that, we see some decline as the baby boomers hit 80-plus.”
The town’s growth rate between 2010 and 2014 was .29 percent.
Manager David Sosa said population data is helpful when analyzing trends, though the year-to-year estimates provided by the state aren’t as important as paying attention to the five to 10 year trends.
“We cannot predict the future, but we can make assumptions based off of sound information that leads us to make better decisions. This also allows us to assess the risk of decisions and take risk where warranted. Failing to review the data and then acting would be more in line with gambling rather than taking a risk,” Sosa said.