Yorkville: 2,390 arrive since '04
Almost double: New census puts village population now above 11,000

By Heather Gillers
Staff Writer

YORKVILLE — The city's population has jumped to 11,179, according to preliminary results of a special census conducted over the past few months.

That's a 27 percent increase over the city's 2004 population of 8,789, also determined by special census.

"It shows that obviously, we are growing, but not quite at the rate some people thought we were," said Mayor Art Prochaska, who had guessed the tally would be closer to 12,000.

Still, the new numbers mean the city could rake in an extra $275,567 in yearly state funds, said Finance Director Traci Pleckham, who called the revenue increase "a great jump."

Most of the money will go to general operation expenses, Pleckham said. The $68,115 expected to come from the state motor fuel tax must go to road improvements.

The city expects to see the funds later this year, after census workers issue the count's final results.

The special census cost about $166,000 and was approved by the City Council last spring, said Community Relations Director Glory Spies.

Prochaska expects to conduct at least one more special census before the regularly scheduled 2010 census. At the last scheduled census in 2000, the city had only 6,189 people.

The state funding another special census in 2007 or 2008 could bring the city, Prochaska said, would exceed the cost of counting new residents.

"The way we're growing, that could be a lot of people," he added.

02/15/06