Sherburne County leads state in migration rate

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Sherburne County in central Minnesota had a higher rate of migration in recent years than any other, according to a report from Minnesota Planning's State Demographic Center.

Sherburne County experienced a net migration gain of 6,818 people between 1995 and 1998, a rate of 3.1 per 100 residents, according to the report.

Chisago, Scott and Carver counties also had high rates of net migration -- the number of people who moved in minus the number who moved out.

Sherburne County also has been the fastest-growing county in the state for the past several years.

Statewide, more people moved into Minnesota than moved out between 1998 and 1999, following a trend of net migration gains in the state that began in the mid-1980s.

More than $170 million of income was drained out of Minnesota between 1998 and 1999, apparently because the state is losing more high-income people than it is attracting. One reason may be the movement of affluent retirees to the Sunbelt states, according to the report.

Stearns and Benton counties also gained population through migration between 1998 and 1999, although at significantly lower rates than Sherburne. Stearns saw a net migration gain of 2,363 people during those years, while Benton County gained 464 people.

Overall, 26 of 87 counties in the state lost more people than they gained in migration between 1998 and 1999, according to the report. They include rural, agricultural counties such as Traverse and Norman, as well as some Twin Cities metro counties like Hennepin and Ramsey.

Some counties that are popular lake vacation destinations, including Crow Wing, Cass and Aitkin, also saw migration jumps.

The numbers also show that most people who move within the state typically travel short distances. The largest migration streams are almost always between adjacent counties.