California’s population topped 39-million this year. The State Department of Finance says a, quote, “natural increase” of births, minus deaths, provided most of the modest point-9 percent increase, which is in line with recent patterns. Meanwhile, after gaining an estimated 543 residents the previous year, Nevada County was one of 15 counties showing an actual population drop, losing 229 residents, the third-highest loss. County CEO Rick Haffey describes growth as “slow” before the recession, and “stagnant” since then…

click to listen to Rick Haffey

Haffey says this year Nevada County had 825 births, but 958 deaths. But there are also economic factors, including the housing situation…

click to listen to Rick Haffey

Haffey also says there hasn’t been significant job growth in Nevada County, which slows migration. The latest numbers are through July of this year, when the population was estimated at 97-thousand-946.