Population Growth
Fueled by job growth and quality of life, Sonoma County has continued a modest growth rate, reaching 484,470 residents by 2008. Since 2000, the population has increased by 23,006 residents, or 5.0%. A majority of these residents, 69%, live within the city limits of our nine cities. The City of Santa Rosa has led this growth in total population gain, adding 12,386 residents, or 8.4%, to attain its current population of 159,981.

Between 1990 and 2000, population increased by 70,400 persons, with an average annual growth rate of 1.9%. From 2000 through 2008 population in Sonoma County grew at an average annual rate of 0.6%.