TULARE COUNTY,VISALIA AND DINUBA GREW IN ’22
-May 4,2023-
Stable births, fewer deaths, and a rebound in foreign immigration slowed California’s recent population decline in 2022, with the state’s population estimated at 38,940,231 people as of January 1, 2023, according to new data released this week by the California Department of Finance.
The 0.35-percent population decline for 2022, roughly 138,400 persons, marks a slowdown compared to the recent decline during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Between 2021 and 2022, California’s population decreased 0.53 percent or 207,800 persons, due mainly to sharp declines in natural increase and foreign immigration. For 2022, natural increase – the net amount of births minus deaths — increased from 87,400 in 2021 to 106,900 in 2022. Births decreased slightly from 420,800 in 2021 to 418,800 in 2022, while deaths declined gradually from 333,300 persons in 2021 to 311,900 persons in 2022, respectively.
Foreign immigration nearly tripled in 2022 compared to the prior year, with a net gain of 90,300 persons in 2022 compared to 31,300 in 2021. While foreign immigration to California has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, natural increase has not rebounded. Total births remain low due to fertility declines; while deaths have eased gradually from their pandemic peak, they remain elevated. With slower domestic in-migration and increased domestic out-migration likely the result of work- from-home changes, declines in net domestic migration offset the population gains from natural increase and international migration.
Around Tulare County
In Tulare County, the county’s overall population increased slightly by 557 persons to 474,507. Dinuba was the fastest growing city at 1%. Some towns in the county shrunk slightly but Visalia added nearly 1000 new residents( 25th fastest growing in the state) and Woodlake, Dinuba and Tulare each grew by a small percentage (see chart).
In the state, Larthrop was the fastest growing city adding 3,505 new residents and bringing their population to 35,080.Delano also added nearly 1000 new persons.
Biggest losers
Statewide, forty-six of the state’s fifty-eight counties lost population. The ten largest percentage decreases were: Lassen (-4.3 percent), Del Norte (-1.3 percent), Plumas (-1.2 percent), Santa Cruz (-1.0 percent), Marin (-1.0 percent), Tehama (-1.0 percent), Napa (-1.0 percent), Lake (-0.9 percent), Monterey (-0.8 percent), and Los Angeles (-0.8 percent). The state’s three most populous counties all experienced population loss: Los Angeles declined by 73,293 persons (-0.75 percent), San Diego by 5,680 persons (-0.2 percent), and Orange by 14,782 persons (-0.5 percent).
Visalia new housing slump continues
Visalia has permitted 73% fewer new homes in the first 4 months of the year compared to the same period in 2022. Builders permitted only 2 new homes in April according to the latest City of Visalia figures. Last year by May 1, home builders had permitted 245 new homes.But so far this year, the city has issued only 66 new single family residential permits – a trend if continued- would put the full year as one of slowest for new home construction in decades.
Overall the total value of all permits is also down by 62%
although residential remodels for the year to date are up.High interest rates have slowed building plans as well as the sale of existing homes in town.
Visalia Civic Center could add 1.5 acres
On the Visalia City Council closed door agenda this week is negotiations to buy about 1.5 acres from Tulare County Farm Bureau. The land – to the east of the city Visalia Emergency Communications Center (VECC) building, fronts only on Goshen Ave north of Ben Maddox. The purchase would square out city-owned land from Oak to Goshen Ave. The Farm Bureau land was uses infers back to ship cattle from the stockyard to reach to UP rail tracks.