Chapter 4: Affected Environment - Aitkin County Government

100%65 Years of Age & Over90%11.42%11.97% 13.51%15.58%18.09%20.23%11.42%80%70%24.84%26.88%26.77%45 to 64 Years of Age25.59%24.04%23.25%24.84%Percentage of Population60%50%40%36.64%20 to 44 Years of Age34.89% 33.96% 33.05% 32.39% 31.55%36.64%30%20%0 to 19 Years of Age10%27.09%26.25% 25.75% 25.78% 25.47% 24.98%27.09%0%2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035YearFigure 4.2.3.a. Projected Age Distribution for Analysis Population, 2000 – 2035.Recreational uses of central Minnesota are changing from a region of family resorts andvacation cottages into an area popular for retirement homes, large-scale resorts, andyear-round residences. This trend is expected to continue. The proportion of theanalysis area population from ages 0 to 44 is projected to decrease over the 25 yearperiod from 2005 to 2030. The percentage of persons age 44 to 64 is also expected togradually decrease during the same time frame. However, the greatest change isexpected to occur in percentage of the population age 65 and over. This segment of thepopulation is projected to increase from 11.4 percent in 2005 to 20.2 percent in 2030.The proportion of the population over the age of 65 is projected to begin to decreaseafter 2030. Projected changes in the age distribution of the analysis population aredisplayed in Figure 4.2.3.a (Minnesota State Demographic Center 2007).Headwaters ROPE Study 38