According to a recent report from the Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, Richfield's 2003 population as of July 1 last year was 6,936.

While Richfield was the only incorporated community to show a population increase, the population in the county's unincorporated areas grew by 2.6 percent, to 3,278, more than any other incorporated community.

Salina, with 2,378 people, followed by Monroe with 1,819 were the county's second- and third-largest cities.

Despite slight population decreases in the other eight incorporated towns, the county, as a whole had a population increase of 2.6 percent due to the increase in unincorporated areas.

Two neighboring counties, Wayne and Piute, showed slight losses in 2003 from the official 2000 census. Wayne County had a drop of 0.7 of a percent and Piute was down 1.3 percent.

- Hal Edwards