The 2011 Census results officially show what Battlefords officials have known for a while now: that both communities are growing in population.
The 2011 Census results show North Battleford with a population of 13,888. That compared to 13,190 in 2006, for a population gain of 5.3 per cent.
The results also show Battleford with a population of 4,065. That compared to 3,685 in 2006 for an even higher per centage gain of 10.3 per cent.
It was a similar story for communities across the province as Saskatchewan grew in population by 6.7 per cent. Only Alberta at 10.8 per cent and British Columbia at 7 per cent posted higher gains as provinces.
The most impressive gains were seen in the immediate communities surrounding the major cities of Saskatoon and Regina. Martensville grew from 4,978 in 2006 to 7,716 in 2011 for a whopping 55 per cent growth rate. Of communities over 5,000 across Canada, Martensville had the second-highest growth rate behind Milton, which grew by 56.5 per cent.
The town of Warman may be seriously thinking of city status after census numbers showed a growth from 4,769 to 7,084, for a gain of 48.5 per cent.
In the Regina area, White City was the fastest-growing town in Saskatchewan with a growth rate of 70.2 per cent, from 1,113 in 2006 to 1894 in 2011.
Saskatoon itself grew by 19,781 or 9.8 per cent to 222,189, while Regina grew by 13,818 people or 7.7 per cent to 193100. Prince Albert grew by 1,002 to 35,129 while Moose Jaw grew by 1,142 to 33,274.
While the Battlefords could point to an impressive gain in population the title for fastest-growing city in the northwest region has to go to Lloydminster.
Lloydminster grew from 8,118 to 9,772 on the Saskatchewan side for a 20.4 per cent growth rate. On the Alberta side it grew from 15,910 to 18,032 for a 13.3 per cent growth rate.
In a statement Premier Brad Wall said the 2011 Census paints a picture of growth in every part of the province.
"All 15 of Saskatchewan's cities and nearly 80 per cent of Saskatchewan towns saw their population increase from 2006 and 2011 - a complete turnaround from the previous five years," said Wall. "Our government will keep working hard to keep Saskatchewan growing and to meet both the opportunities and the challenges of growth."
