Report says Redmond’s daytime population spike is top in U.S.

When people in the surrounding communities leave for work in the morning, many of them are headed to Redmond.

When people in the surrounding communities leave for work in the morning, many of them are headed to Redmond.

According to a new U.S. Census Bureau report, Microsoft Corp. and other major employers are the main reason why Redmond’s population rises from 52,124 to 110,195 during daytime business hours. That’s a 111.4 percent hike in population due to commuting workers.

Redmond is top on the list in the U.S. for cities with a population of 50,000 or more. Rounding out the top five are Greenville, S.C. (97.9 percent boost), Alpharetta, Ga. (85.2), Palo Alto, Calif. (82.5) and Salt Lake City, Utah (80.0). The U.S. Census Bureau conducted the American Community Survey over a five-year period from 2006-10.

“As one of the world’s largest research and development centers, Microsoft offers a tremendous number of desirable jobs and we are very appreciative of the supportive climate in Redmond,” said DeLee Shoemaker, Microsoft’s senior director of Washington State Government Affairs. “But the region’s vibrant economy means that our roads and bridges must be updated in order to move people and products. We encourage the Legislature to pass a transportation package this year to fund critical mobility and safety projects.”

Jeri Rowe-Curtis, City of Redmond chief policy adviser and communications and marketing administrator, said the surge is the result of the growth in well-paying jobs in combination with strong economic growth, which supports both large and small businesses and the city’s tax base.

“Redmond imports at least 40,000 people per work day (in 2013). Because we have more jobs than residents, it is vital that Redmond remain an active voice on Sound Transit and with King County Metro to create transportation alternatives to driving a car alone,” said Mayor John Marchione. A large number of Redmond workers also live in the area.

The report notes that the concept of the daytime population refers to the number of people who are present in an area during typical business hours, including workers, children in school, people in hospitals or other short-term medical facilities, people temporarily staying in lodging facilities and customers present at retail locations.

According to Rowe-Curtis, Redmond’s Planning Department estimated the current daytime population at about 101,000 with a resident population of 55,360 as the 2012 estimate from the Office of Financial Management.