Yorkville population growth even higher than expected

YORKVILLE - The City has a new number - 8,749.

Preliminary resuolts of last month's special census put the city's population at 2,560 more than the year of 2000 tally, and about 1,150 more than the city had projected.

The numbers, which are still being verified by the Census Bureau, would mean additional funding for the city. Yorkville's population in the 2000 census was 6,189.

Finance Director Traci Plackham told the City Council this week that, based on the initial figures, the city stands to gain nearly $200,000 in state and federal funding.

"The fact that we did this special census had an impact on the city," Mayor Art Prochaska said.

The special census cost the city about $28,000.

City officials had projected the Yorkville's population at about 7,600, but a number of houses built in new subdivisions put the numbers even higher than expected.

City officials were pleased with the apparent high level of participation in the special census. Prochaska has praised a number of volunteers, local residents who served as enumerators and area media for helping deliver a solid response.

Census Bureau officials told the city the final count could vary because each questionnaire must be matched against address listings recorded by enumerators. The final results are expected in about four months.

A survey by the U.S. Census Bureau showed Kendall County to be the fastest growing county in Illinois between 2000 and 2002. Population growth in the county for that time has increased about 12 percent.