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Once-rural Nibley leads the valley in rate of population growth By
Natalie Larson
NIBLEY -- The rural town of Nibley has seen a population increase of 75 percent in the last 10 years, according to U.S. Census Bureau information. Its population is now 2,045. "It's sickening," Todd Hansen, a City Council representative, said. Hansen said Nibley is growing faster than any other community in Cache Valley. "How can you stop development?" Hansen said. "You can't. As long as buildings meet the building requirements, they can build." The increase is partially due to land in Nibley being cheap and plentiful, Hansen said. It is also easy to get building permits, he said. "We still have a lot of buildable ground. Eventually it will run out," Hansen said. With all this growth, the city has had a difficult time keeping up with the demand for water, Hansen said. It has had to put in a new well and is working on a new sewer system. Hansen said the growth is also due to low interest rates. "It's the American dream to own your own home. I don't blame them," Hansen said. With each of those new homes, Hansen said the city loses about $100. It does not get an increase in tax revenues with the influx because Nibley does not have much taxable commercial development. Bonnie McBride, the planning and zoning clerk, said the elementary school is overcrowded with all the new students. She said there are three new students each week. "We just built the school two years ago and already we've had to add two portables. We'll have to add another one next year," McBride said. McBride said most of the growth has been in subdivisions. They include Elkhorn, Brookfield, Westwood and Scott Farm. "Nibley is a bedroom community," Hansen said. This means that people have their homes in Nibley but work somewhere else, Hansen said. Hansen said he was has lived in Nibley for the past 63 years. He said there were only 400 people when he was born -- mostly farmers. "The people who have been here a long time don't like it," McBride said. McBride said there have been safety improvements like sidewalks because of the increase. "Any type of growth brings in a lot of different types of people. It is fascinating to mingle with them. It's good to learn from other people," Hansen said.
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