While Deschutes County may no longer be among the fastest growing counties in the nation, it’s still the fastest growing region in Oregon — just barely, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Population estimates released today show the Bend-Redmond Metropolitan Statistical Area — which comprises all of Deschutes County — grew at a higher rate from 2010 to 2012 than all other Oregon metropolitan statistical areas.

The Bend-Redmond MSA beat out the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro MSA by 0.0151059, according to census estimates. Of course, in actual population, the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro MSA beats Bend-Redmond by 2,127,523.

Both MSAs grew about 2.9 percent between 2010 and 2012.

For Deschutes County, that rate falls well below the 30 percent population growth recorded between 2000 and 2006, when it ranked as the 60th fastest growing county in the nation.

Still, Deschutes continues to gain population, unlike some other areas in the state.

The Census Bureau estimates that half of Oregon’s 12 micropolitan statistical areas lost population from 2010 to 2012, including the Prineville area, which consists of all of Crook County. From 2011 to 2012, however, the estimates show a slight increase.

Metropolitan and micropolitan areas are geographical regions created by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for statistical purposes. A metropolitan area has a core of 50,000 people or more, while a micro area’s core has between 10,000 and 50,000 people.

Each area, whether metro or micro, consists of one or more counties.

Federal officials periodically revise the areas and add new ones. The latest revision, released Feb. 28, changed the name of the Bend MSA to the Bend-Redmond MSA, although its boundary remained the same.