Minneapolis leads region in population growth

The City of Minneapolis led population growth in the Twin Cities seven-county metro region last year.

Overall, the metro area gained almost 24,000 residents, bringing the population to 2.87 million people. The Metropolitan Council released metro area population estimates today for 2011, the first year after the 2010 census.

Minneapolis grew by more than five thousand residents, said Libby Starling, research manager for the Metropolitan Council.

"The city of Minneapolis had a very good year in terms of population growth last year," Starling said. "And we are seeing a return to growth in the core cities which we have not been seeing specifically for many years."

Starling says newly built, multi-family housing may have been the draw in Minneapolis. Both core cities saw an increase in occupancy rates for rental properties.