City staff is currently conducting a census of the newly annexed 374 acres south of Maple Valley Highway. The land, formerly called the New Life-Aqua Barn annexation, stretches almost to 184th Avenue Southeast. This land became part of Renton June 9.

City staff estimate the annexation puts Renton’s population over 80,000. But a census will return firmer numbers. State law requires cities to conduct a census of annexed areas. A variety of state funds, including police services, are determined by a resident-count of newly annexed areas.

The door-to-door census is being conducted by the firm, Census Services. The firm has until Aug. 15 to complete the count. Same goes for a census of the Liberty Annexation, which is also occurring now.

The Liberty Annexation is 196 acres of the East Renton Plateau. The city is still processing this annexation and it won’t become part of Renton until August.

Both the New Life-Aqua Barn and the Liberty annexations were proposed by petitions signed by 60 percent of area property owners.

New Life Church headed the New Life-Aqua Barn annexation effort. The 60-percent petition was accepted in December.

Alex Pietsch, administrator for the department of community and economic development, estimates about 2,000 people live in the newly annexed area. That makes the area one of the largest to join Renton by way of petition, maybe the largest this decade, Pietsch says.

The annexation includes Wonderland Estates Mobile Home Park, which nearly closed until it was purchased by the King County Housing Authority in November.

Emily Garland can be reached at emily.garland@reporternewspapers.com or (425) 255-3484, ext. 5052.

About the census

Each census taker will carry an official City of Renton identification badge. He or she will ask for names of people in each household. All information will be kept confidential. All records are destroyed after verification. Only the final city population count will be released.

Residents can also take the census the following ways:

• By phone. Call Glenn MacGilvra, census director of Census Services, at 425-444-4936.

• Complete the census form and return mail it to: City of Renton, Planning Division, 1055 S. Grady Way, Renton WA, 98057. The form is available by visiting Renton’s Web site: http://rentonwa.gov and clicking on the Living tab.

• Contact MacGilvra for census questions, and the City of Renton for annexation or city questions. Call city staff at 425-430-6575.