Pahrump reversed a year of population losses, gaining 1,031 residents in the first quarter of 2009, according to estimates by the Nye County Planning Department released Wednesday -- a 2.8 percent gain.

Pahrump had an estimated 38,262 residents as of March 31, up from 37,231 residents at the end of 2008. Pahrump population figures declined starting in the first quarter of 2008 from a peak of 38,859 in the last quarter of 2007, before the economic downturn began.

The decline in the first quarter of 2008 was the first time Pahrump population figures went down since the Nye County Planning Department began keeping statistics.

The population of Nye County as a whole rose by 1,055 residents, from 45,181 people to 46,236, a 2.3 percent gain. County population statistics often mirror Pahrump figures, since Pahrump constitutes 82.7 percent of the county's population.

Elsewhere, Tonopah's population stayed the same at 2,896 residents, as did Gabbs with 399 residents and Reese River Valley, 114.

Beatty gained 21 residents in the first quarter, growing from 1,035 people to 1,056, according to county estimates, a 2 percent growth rate. Sixteen more people called Amargosa Valley home, raising its population from 1,374 to 1,390, a 1.2 percent gain.

Smoky Valley registered a drop of 1.1 percent in its population, from 1,790 residents to 1,771.

Nye County estimates population using active residential customers from electrical utilities multiplied by the average number of persons per household as determined in the 2000 census. The county calibrates the number of people living in group quarters using a trending factor that is checked on an annual basis with phone interviews.

Population figures aren't considered official until the census, which will be conducted next year.

Nye County uses the population estimates to monitor and assess baseline conditions for the Yucca Mountain Project, as well as for public and private agency planning and management.