So long, Portland: Census numbers show 226 fewer residents in the city last year.

Lewiston, meanwhile, gained 109.

New population estimates released today for the biggest cities in each state showed a slight shuffle around Maine.

Portland lost the most in sheer numbers, followed by Bath and Biddeford.

South Portland gained the most from July 2004 to July 2005 with 167. Lewiston tied for fourth place in most new people. Auburn counted 72 more residents than the previous year.

Donald Lemieux, the U.S. Census-designated contact at Maine’s Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics, couldn’t say how cities’ birth and death patterns affected the mix. He wasn’t familiar with the new figures.

Maine gained 6,520 people in all.

It’s no California (up 290,109), but then it’s also no Vermont (up 1,817).



– Kathryn Skelton