The first or highest puts the population at 2.2 million in 2000 and 4.8 million in 2018. The second or middle scenario is the official state forecast and puts the population at 2 million in 2000 and 3.5 million in 2018. The third scenario is the low series and has the state population at 1.9 million in 2000 and 2.2 million in 2018. The future is a range of possibilities. County and city governments and state agencies should choose the scenario that is most likely when deciding which numbers to use in planning.
Slower growth is predicted throughout Nevada.
The 1.8 percent growth rate in Washoe County, with 308,700 residents, will slow to 1.6 percent in 2000 with a population of 325,370, and to .23 percent in 2018 with a population of 358,050, forecasts show. In Carson City, with 50,410 people, the forecasts predict a drop in the growth rate of 3.2 percent to 2.5 percent with a population of 53,140 in 2000, and .29 percent with a population of 57,830 in 2018. Gold prices may impact Elko County s future population. For the county with 47,710 residents, Judson forecasts a growth rate decline from 4.6 percent to 3.3 percent and 53,320 residents in 2000, and 1.2 percent and 77,750 residents in 2018. The projections for Douglas County, with 39,590 people, show the current 5.6 percent growth rate declining to 3.5 percent with a population of 44,360 in 2000 and to 1.7 percent and population of 68,810 in 2018.