Against expectations, Mower County has a slightly younger population than it did 10 years ago.

Although Mower County’s total population went up by a few hundred residents, there were more young people living in the county in 2010 than in 2000. Mower County’s population increase is a result of Austin’s increase over the past 10 years.

“For an outstate community in Minnesota to have a population increase is a rarity,” said Craig Hoium, Austin’s community development director.

Mower County’s total population rose to 39,163 residents from 38,603 in 2000. Of the total population, there were 10,860 residents 19 or younger, compared to 10,814 in 2000.

There was a slight increase in 20-24 year olds, with 2,184 residents compared to 2,041. There also were more 25-34 year olds last year than in 2000, as 4,650 residents of that age called Mower County home, compared to 4,264.

The increase in population means an increase in some older demographics, too. There were 1,422 residents 85 or older in 2010 compared to 1,151 10 years ago.

The 2000 census showed there were 2,927 residents between 75 and 84. In 2010, there were 2,522 residents in that range.

The new census numbers shows that Mower County residents are mostly staying in the area. There were 5,658 residents who were 35- to 44-years-old in 2000, and 5,522 people 45- to 54-years-old in 2010.

There weren’t significant differences in gender, as women slightly outnumbered men in 2000 and 2010 by a margin of less than 1 percent.

The slight reshuffling in demographics should be expected, as State Demographer Tom Gillaspy explained last month. Mower County’s Hispanic population increased by more than 3,000 people between 2000 and 2010, which Gillaspy said happens with counties that have food processing plants, which tend to attract younger workers of color and foreign-born residents. As food processing companies have increased in size over the past 20 years, so too has the demand for plant workers.

“Where do you find people willing to work? Young people,” Gillaspy said.

Yet Gillaspy noted most rural communities are losing their younger population to larger, urban areas. Places like Mower County are the exception to a century-long concentration of youth in cities because of food processing plants.

“You’re not going to find (young people) from southern Minnesota or Iowa, you’re going to have to bring in people from other areas,” said Gillaspy.