As a sign of the slowing economy, Nye County planners estimate Pahrump only gained 61 residents in the fourth quarter of 2007.

That comes after the addition of about 1 percent each quarter in the first three-quarters of the year with a gain of 367 residents in the third quarter, 363 in the second quarter and 372 in the first quarter.

Pahrump nonetheless, continues to inch closer to the 40,000 mark. Nye County planners estimate Pahrump's population as of Jan. 1, 2008 was 38,859. Pahrump climbed above the 38,000 plateau in the fourth quarter of 2006. The Pahrump valley gained 1,163 residents in all of 2007.

For once, the growth of Nye County's population outpaced that of Pahrump, 88 more people called Nye County home in the final quarter of 2007. The county's population was pegged at 46,850 people as of Jan. 1, meaning Pahrump has 82.3 percent of the county's population.

Elsewhere in Nye County: Tonopah is only 89 residents short of the 3,000 mark, gaining another 43 people to finish up the year with 2,911 residents.

Beatty's population continued to slide, losing another 23 residents, to 1,068 people, a loss of almost 1 percent of its population. In the second quarter, planners estimate Beatty lost 42 residents.

Amargosa Valley gained 12 more residents in the fourth quarter to finish up at 1,395 residents. But that is an anemic growth rate of .2 percent, after growth of 1 percent over the previous three quarters.

Smoky Valley had eight more residents in the final quarter, up to 1,773 as of Jan. 1. Gabbs lost 13 residents, dropping to 388 people. In the Reese River Valley, the population remained stable at 114.

The Nye County Planning Department uses the number of hookups of electrical customers times the average number of people living in each household as determined in the 2000 census.

The county uses a trending factor to gauge the number of people staying in group quarters, like jails and nursing homes. Those counts are checked annually using telephone interviews.

The population estimates are used to monitor and assess baseline conditions for the Yucca Mountain project, to prepare baseline figures for county planning, as well as for public and private agency planning and management.

Official figures won't be available until the 2010 census.