Mat-Su Borough now state's second-largest

WASILLA — Numbers released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau show the Mat-Su Borough continued to be the fastest growing region of the state during the most recent period covered by the department.

According to the bureau, the borough grew by 2.9 percent between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015. The borough added 2,810 people during that period, or more than seven people per day. For the first time, the area’s population topped six figures, with a new estimate of 101,095 residents, making it the second-most populous in the state behind the Municipality of Anchorage (298,695). The Fairbanks North Star Borough, with 99,631 residents, fell to third.

The Mat-Su was the only area of the state to add large numbers of people during the period covered. The next-largest population increase was seen by the Kenai Peninsula Borough, which added 421 residents. Fairbanks increased by 260 people, Juneau jumped by 131 and the Kusilvak Census Area added 66 people.