Although the State of Wyoming’s population is believed to have grown a little last year, census officials figure that Powell lost a couple dozen residents.

New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau say that Powell’s population sank to 6,180 residents as of July 1, 2019 — down by 27 residents, or 0.4%, from the same point in 2018.

In addition to going in the opposite direction as the state as a whole and rural Park County — which grew by 0.2 and 0.3% respectively — Powell is believed to have lost more people than Cody. The county seat is believed to have lost 22 people, for a new population of 9,788 residents. Cody ranks as the 11th-largest city in Wyoming.

Powell remains in the No. 16 position, falling further behind Douglas (population 6,364) while pulling further ahead of Worland (5,024), according to the estimates released last month.

The Census Bureau figures that Meeteetse had a net loss of three residents, for a new population of 323.

Park County as a whole is estimated to have been home to 29,194 people as of last summer — 16 fewer (down 0.1%) from the prior year.

The figures are based on estimated births, deaths and people moving in and out of a given area. Officials with the state’s Economic Analysis Division have said that changes in Wyoming’s population are typically tied to employment.

“People tend to move to areas where the economy is vibrant, which is particularly true for Wyoming,” Wenlin Liu, the division’s chief economist, said in late 2019.

A much more accurate population count from the city, county, state and nation will be available next year, when data from the ongoing 2020 Census will be made available.