St. George Growth Leads Nation

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) St. George was once known mainly as a haven for sun-loving retirees and golfers. But the Southern Utah metropolis is now the fastest growing area in the United States, according to population estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

"A lot of corporations and businesses are now looking at St. George as a small town feel with all the amenities of a big town," says Mortensen. "Areas that were just tumbleweeds and sage brush are now full-blown subdivisions and commercial centers."

Assistant City Manager Marc Mortensen has lived in St. George for eight years - during which time the area has grown nearly 40-percent. He says growth peaked in 2005 when the city issued a record 22-hundred home building permits. That growth also comes with growing pains. Mortensen says crime is up, schools are crowded and traffic is building.

"St. George has always had its challenges because of the geography of the land," notes Mortensen. "With the big hills and rivers and protected species in various areas, it makes it difficult to move cars from the East end of town to the West end and vice versa."

Water and power are also pressing needs for the arid region, says Mortensen. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of St. George and surrounding areas at 126-thousand. But state and local officials say that number is closer to 140-thousand.

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