Fruita's Population and Housing Growth

As the tables below show, Fruita's population and housing growth has grown at a faster rate than that of the other municipalities in Mesa County as well as the County' population growth rate as a whole. This year (2006) appears to be no exception since we are approaching 120 new housing units this year and expect to reach 215 by the end of the year; we are growing fast and trying to keep up. By the same token downtown seems healthier than ever before, there are five new restaurants and a new hotel, and more commercial development in the wings. The Greenway Business Park west of town is starting to pop with new development, and new parks and trails are being dedicated and constructed for citizen use. The City of Fruita has also completed a large number of capital improvement projects from 1980-2004, paving the way for new growth.

While the City of Fruita is a small city it is part of a larger regional market of 400,000 people (Mesa Mall regional market), a county market of 129,000 people and an immediate market area of 30,000 people (Fruita Monument High School catchment area).

Fruita continues to be one of the fastest growing municipalities in the Western Slope with an annual growth rate of 7% over the past ten years. There were 377 new residential permits issued in 2005 in Fruita, compared to 171 in 2000, and the growth rate in the market area continues at a similar pace. New housing construction consisted of primarily single family homes $150,000-$300,000; some apartment condominiums $80,000-$100,000, mobile homes $90,000-$110,000 & a retirement community $150,000-$300,000.

The Fruita Community Plan estimates that with this year's rate of new dwelling units we are at a "boom" growth rate. Our total number of housing units is up from 1,582 in 1990 (census) to 2,610 dwelling units in 2000 and 3,800 estimated in 2006. We have added 2,400 housing units since 1990, a 52% increase in our housing supply over 15 years. Our population has increased from 4,042 in 1990 to 6,478 in 2000 (2000 census date), and an estimated population of 9,500 is expected by 2006; the city has seen an increase of 55% over the last 15 years. Fruita (like the rest of the valley) has seen boom/bust cycles before, but we do not see the current growth cycle slowing down until the year 2018-2020.

Mesa County/Fruita Population Growth

Source: 1990, 2000 US Census; 1998-1999 City of Fruita Planning Clearences based on vacancy rate of 4.21 and average house hold size of 2.46; 1994-1997, 2001-2004 State Demographer. Retreived on 07/10/06 http://www.dola.state.co.us/demog/Population/PopulationTotals/CurrentEstimates/Table3-04FinalEstimates.xls Note that * stands for estimated amount.

Source: 1990, 2000 US Census; 1998-1999 City of Fruita Planning Clearences based on vacancy rate of 4.21 and average house hold size of 2.46; 1994-1997, 2001-2004 State Demographer. Retreived on 07/10/06 http://www.dola.state.co.us/demog/Population/PopulationTotals/CurrentEstimates/Table3-04FinalEstimates.xls Note that * stands for estimated amount.

Mesa County/Fruita Housing Growth

Source: 1990-2004 Colorado State Demographer's office statistics on housing in Mesa County.