1997 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

3.4 Population Growth of Gem Lake and Vicinity Gem Lake is located in the northeast portion of the Minneapolis -St. Paul metropolitan area which has experienced very rapid urbanization. This area reached the population "take -off' stage during the 1950s, and accelerated during the 1960s. f The populations of the cities of Gem Lake and. Vadnais Heights, and White Bear Lake Township also increased substantially from 1970 to 1990, while the populations of the City of White Bear Lake began to stabilize (see Table .l.). Current and future population trends as estimated by the Metropolitan Council indicate that the populations of both Gem Lake and White Bear Lake City have stabilized:and will remain relatively stable. The population of Vadnais Heights and White.Bear Lake Township are expected to experience steady growth. The low residential density desired.by the citizens of the City .and the withholding of a substantial amount 'of undeveloped land by individual with. no desire to develop it, will point to limited future r population growth. 3.5 Characteristics of Population Table 2 summarizes selected characteristics of the population of Gem Lake and the adjoining governmental units. The percent of people older then 35 years old for Gem Lake (46.3) is very similar to the City of White Bear Lake (45.4) and slightly greater than White Bear Lake Township and Vadnais Heights. Conversely, Gem Lake and White Bear Lake have the lowest percentage of population in the primary child bearing 25-34 age group. The relative stability of the population of bath. Gem Lake at.White Bear Lake City can possibly be partially attributed to these age distribution figures. The 1990 medianfamily income level in Gem Lake ($59;224) was by far the highest of the adjacent communities. Only2;3 percent of the population within Gem Lake was viewed to be below the poverty line as defined by the 1990 U.S. Census:, Comprehensive Plan Gem Lake, Minnesota page 8