The population growth of Pahrump slowed in the second quarter of 2006, Nye County planners estimate, as Pahrump added 41 more residents from the end of the first quarter of 2006.

The Pahrump population had only a 0.1 percent increase over the previous quarter, after a 3.5 percent growth rate in the first quarter of 2006 over the last quarter of 2005, and growth rates in the 2 to 3 percent range in each of the previous three quarters in 2005.

The latest figures put the estimate of Pahrump's population at 36,625 residents as of June 30.

The total Nye County population has been estimated at 44,580, an increase of 143 residents in the last quarter.

Pahrump had 2,903 more residents at the end of the second quarter of 2006, on June 30, than at the same time a year ago, an 8.6 percent increase. Pahrump had the lion's share of the population increase in Nye County, County-wide the estimated number of residents increased by 3,125 from 41,455 a year earlier, a 7.5 percent increase.

Elsewhere in Nye County, Amargosa Valley gained seven more residents in the second quarter, with a population of 1,369 as of June 30. Beatty saw 1,104 residents as of June 30, 14 more than after the first quarter of 2006 and 24 more than were there a year earlier.

Tonopah had an estimated 2,917 residents as of the end of the second quarter of 2006, county planners estimate, or 18 more than after the first quarter of 2006 and 67 more than a year earlier on June 30, 2005.

Nye County planners estimate population based on residential customers from various electrical utilities multiplied times the average number of persons per household as determined by the U.S. census.

The Nye County School District reported 6,534 students in the school system as of last Friday, the official count day used for determining state aid. That's a 5 percent increase over the 6,223 students last year, or 311 students more. It's also an increase of 99 students over the 6,435 students counted on Sept. 8, at the end of the first week of school.

Pahrump Valley High School has the largest enrollment with 1,370 students, 99 more than last year. Rosemary Clarke Middle School has 1,261 students, an increase of 50. Enrollment at the four Pahrump elementary schools totaled 2,315 last Friday, up from 2,225 last year, a 4 percent increase.

In Tonopah, Silver Rim Elementary School enrollment increased from 93 to 115 pupils, a 23.6 percent rise, Tonopah Elementary School enrollment was up by 10, to 223 pupils. Tonopah High School enrollment dropped by seven students to 162.

Round Mountain Elementary School had nine more students, 156 as of last Friday, while the high school enrollment dropped by one to 198.

Amargosa Elementary School had 192 students last Friday, 17 more than last year, a 9.7 percent increase; while Beatty Elementary School enrollment sank three students to 105 and Beatty High School enrollment was up nine students, to 134. Gabbs School lost a student with 58 enrolled this year, while the remote Duckwater one room school house lost two students, with eight still in attendance.