City has population rebound after Katrina

NEW ORLEANS --- Nearly two-thirds of the city's pre-Hurricane Katrina population has returned, a new report shows.

But Greg Rigamer, the demographer who compiled the report, said Tuesday that he expects the growth seen since July 2006 to plateau within the next year as the sense of urgency to return lessens.

Mr. Rigamer, whose company, GCR & Associates, has been tracking demographics in post-Katrina New Orleans, said an estimated 288,000 people were living in New Orleans in October. In July 2005, the month before Katrina hit and left 80 percent of the city flooded, the population was estimated at 455,000.

Mr. Rigamer said the rebound appears to be "a bunch of decisions made independently by people," and not driven by a single event that is drawing people back.

The rate of repopulation seemed to increase during the past few months, possibly because of families returning for the school year or people finishing their rebuilt homes, said Rafe Rabalais, a GCR senior planner.

Between Oct. 1, 2006, and Oct. 1, 2007, New Orleans' population grew 19 percent. From July 1 to Oct. 1 this year, it grew 5 percent, or by 14,500 people.

-- Edited from wire reports