Interactive database: Population changes in California cities and counties

Merced County grew by roughly 3,000 people from 2009 to 2010, according to new estimates from the state Department of Finance.

As of Jan. 1, the department’s Demographic Research Unit estimated that Merced County had 258,495, an increase of 1.1 percent over the previous year’s figure of 255,591. The city of Atwater grew by the largest percentage in Merced County, with 474 more people for a 1.7 percent jump.

The same estimates showed the city of Merced’s population climbed by 0.9 percent with 712 additional residents. Mariposa County decreased in population by 0.3 percent. The annual estimates are used for distributing state funding to cities and counties and are derived from measures such as building permits, births, deaths, school enrollment and migration data. Next year, they will be brought into line with the results of the 2010 Census now under way.

Chowchilla lost 486 inmates but gained some other residents for a net loss of 336 (1.8%).

Seach this database to find out how city and county populations changed from 2009 to 2010.

Click your Web browsers "back" button to search the database again