Airway Heights is the fastest-growing city in the county and the fourth fastest-growing city in the state, according to a recently released report by the forecasting and research division of the state Office of Financial Management.
The city is preparing for this population influx by planning the construction of several multi-family and single-family units throughout the city, Public Works Director Kevin Anderson said.
Over the course of the last year, Airway Height’s population grew 7.4 percent to 9,085 people. That figure does include the population of the Airway Heights Correctional Center, but is still an impressive figure that doesn’t shock local officials.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we grew by the same or higher margins in following years,” Anderson said.
The growth of the area will likely increase even faster due to the introduction of Amazon to the community, Anderson said.
An Amazon fulfillment center is in the works along Interstate 90 and Geiger Boulevard, and will eventually employ at least 1,500 people, with the potential to double that in additional shifts.
This addition plus the businesses that often spring up around Amazon could mean that Airway Heights’ recent growth is just the beginning.
The past three years have shown significant increases in population all over the county, likely due to an influx of jobs.
Sgt. Robert Swan with the Airway Heights Police Department said the city has added two or three officers to accommodate the area’s rapid growth over the last few years.
The department currently has 14 patrol officers, and is in the process of hiring one more. The department feels prepared for future growth, particularly since Amazon is outside of their jurisdiction, Swan said.
“The city has a lot of staff appropriately allocated for coming changes,” Swan said.
The city will be working on housing and transportation projects to make room for new arrivals, but it’s hard to predict what areas of need will be most important.
“Population growth is an estimation. It’s imperfect. You do the best you can with the numbers you’re given,” Anderson said.
Shannen Talbot can be reached at [email protected].
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