Timnath, Weld County are population growth leaders while Fort Collins is stagnant

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·3 min read
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Weld County is apparently the place to be in Colorado.

That's according to recently released U.S. Census Bureau data.

Sure, Weld is one of the largest counties in Colorado and it's easier for small communities than large cities to make the largest jumps in percentage-based population growth. Still, the county is home to seven of the state's 14 fastest-growing municipalities between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2022.

Timnath, which lies just inside Larimer County and abuts Weld County, was the second-fastest growing municipality in Colorado. Along with the fast growth to the town, which claims a Costco and Walmart Supercenter, come decisions regarding developments and infrastructure.

Fort Collins, a growing population hot spot for decades, finally slowed and actually lost population during the two-year period.

Here's a look at the latest population trends, according to the U.S. Census Bureau:

Here is how Weld County is dominating the list of fastest-growing towns in Colorado

Here are Weld County towns' ranking among all Colorado municipalities, population percentage increase between 2020 and 2022, and the estimated current population:

No. 1: Keenesburg: 65% growth, 2,080 population

No. 5: Severance: 32.6%, 10,581

No. 6: Mead: 30.1%, 6,244

No. 7: Ault: 29.6%, 2,495

No. 12: Berthoud (located in Weld and Larimer counties): 19.8%, 12,710

No. 13: Frederick: 16.5%, 17,158

No. 14: Windsor (located in Weld and Larimer counties): 15.9%, 38,510

Growth requires more schools: Weld RE-4 holds groundbreaking ceremonies for two new elementary schools in Windsor

Here is how Larimer County towns and cities grew or shrank in population

Here is how the population changed between 2020 and 2022 and the estimated current population:

  • Timnath: 38.7% increase, ranking second overall statewide among municipalities, with a population of 9,344

  • Fort Collins: 0.4% decline, 169,249

  • Windsor (located in Weld and Larimer counties): 15.9% increase, 38,510

  • Estes Park: 0.7% decline, 5,862

  • Loveland: 2% increase, 77,884

  • Wellington: 7% increase, 11,978

  • Johnstown (located in Larimer and Weld counties): 7% increase, 18,636

  • Berthoud (located in Weld and Larimer counties): 19.8% increase, 12,710

More: Timnath growing pains Harmony Road in Timnath ready to pop with retail projects

Movement mostly away from Colorado's mountain towns

  • Walden was the municipality showing the largest percentage decline in population, 6%, dropping to 569 people.

  • Aspen, Vail and Frisco saw roughly 4% decreases in population, and Avon, Breckenridge and Snowmass Village decreased by roughly 3%.

  • Silverthorne saw the highest percentage increase, at 7%, and now has a population of 4,769. Carbondale and Glenwood Springs saw 3% increases in population.

More: Walden woes Walden business owners say men behind Never Summer Nordic yurts left trail of unpaid bills

Castle Rock and Colorado Springs are up; Denver and Boulder are down in populations

  • Castle Rock led all larger municipalities in population increases, at 8.5%, and now has a population of 80,191.

  • Colorado Springs had a slight increase of 1.2% and is the state's second-largest city at 486,246.

  • Denver, the state's largest city, saw a less than 1% dip to 713,252.

  • Among larger cities, Boulder lost the most people, down 2.4% to 105,485

  • Only five of the state's 15 largest cities saw population increases.

  • Greeley, the 10th-largest city, saw a less than 1% drop to 109,209.

Colorado, including Larimer and Weld, sees population increases

  • Larimer County's population rose 2% and now has 366,778 residents.

  • Weld County's population rose 5.6% and now has 350,176 residents.

  • Colorado's population rose 1.1% and now 5,839,926 residents.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: U.S. census: Fort Collins population declines while Timnath near top