City and County officials got their wish yesterday.

Mower County’s population increased by about 500 people in the last 10 years.

According to 2010 Census data, Mower County’s population is 39,163. The county grew from 38,604 in 2000. Most of that growth can be attributed to Austin; the city’s population grew by more than 1,000 people to 24,718, according to 2010 census numbers.

Some smaller communities experienced a large jump. Grand Meadow’s population rose from 945 residents to 1,139 people. Almost 100 more people live in Racine now, as the town had 442 people in 2010 compared to 355 residents in 2000.

Several towns shrunk in population. Brownsdale lost almost 50 people, as the town had 676 residents in 2010, with 718 in 2000.

Every community has a few new faces, however. Mower County’s racial demographics have changed drastically, according to census numbers. Hispanic residents in Austin have more than doubled over the past 10 years, growing from about 1,400 to almost 3,800 people, a 166 percent increase. This mirrors a statewide trend, as Minnesota’s Hispanic population has risen more than 74 percent over the past 10 years. There are more black residents in Austin as well, growing almost 300 percent in size from 188 to 749 people in 10 years.

“This community is nothing but welcome,” said Miguel Garate, international student adviser at Riverland Community College and a prominent advocate of Austin’s Hispanic community. “(People) moved here because it’s a safe place and they feel like they are home.”

In addition, Austin’s white population has drastically decreased.

While census numbers indicate 20,163 white residents lived in Austin in 2000, only 17,670 white residents lived in the city in 2010, a 12 percent decline.

The city’s increased population comes as no surprise to Austin Public School officials. They commissioned a demographic report in 2009 that showed there would be a large increase in student enrollment over the next couple years based on Mower County birth records. District officials say Austin will have about 300 to 400 more students five years from now.

“We knew about it,” said Mark Stotts, the district’s finance and operations director. “It really didn’t surprise us. It just confirms what the student demographic information was telling us.”

Mower County is among the few border counties in Minnesota to have a population gain. Fillmore and Freeborn Counties decreased in population over the past ten years. In Albert Lea, there are about 500 less residents than there were 10 years ago. Albert Lea’s diversity makeup has changed somewhat less drastically than ours as well. Albert Lea’s Hispanic population increased from 1,740 to 2,380 residents in 2010.

Mayor Tom Stiehm said he’s glad Austin’s population grew and he’s hopeful it will continue to grow in the future.

“This is obviously a good thing,” he said. “Some cities keep shrinking and you’d much rather have your city growing. It goes against the trend right now.”

Stiehm said the business growth in Austin will likely continue to draw people to town, and that will eventually draw more businesses to town. He also said the increase will keep Austin on the map for different types of state funding.

Though Mower County’s increase was minimal at 1.45 percent, County Coordinator Craig Oscarson saw it as good news, especially since some studies predicted the county’s population would decrease by 1,000 people.

“It’s a good sign that we’re gaining,” Oscarson said.

Unless residents have moved within the county, redistricting shouldn’t drastically change the commissioners’ districts. However, Oscarson noted Olmsted County will need to redraw its lines, as Rochester’s population grew by about 24 percent.

Oscarson said the county will be looking to numbers regarding economic changes. If the elderly and low-income populations grew, the county would likely see a greater need in Human Services.

The release of census data will allow the Legislature to forge forward with redistricting plans, as well. Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, serves on the Redistricting Committee and said the next move is to begin drawing a redistricting map.

Although legislators hope to have the map done and approved by the governor by the end of the 2011 session, Poppe said the deadline isn’t until February of 2012.

“It will, for the 2012 election, be drawn differently so when people are up for election they may be representing a changed district than they currently have,” she said.

She also said DFLers like herself are hoping the Republican-chaired committee is open to suggestions from democrats.

“The map drawing will probably be more directed by the Republicans,” she said. “I’m hopeful the DFL will have a chance to weigh in.”

“There shouldn’t be protection of incumbents when you’re looking at a redistricting map,” she added.