Shakopee was the fastest-growing city in the Twin Cities metro area since 2000, gaining more than 13,000 people in nine years, the Metropolitan Council reports.

Shakopee now has nearly 34,000 people, the report shows. Woodbury, Blaine and Lakeville also added more than 11,000 in that time frame. The overall metro population now stands at 2.87 million, up 9 percent in nine years.

"Each year, about 100,000 people move to the Twin Cities. Another 100,000 leave the Twin Cities,” said Council forecaster Todd Graham. “The growth we’re experiencing is primarily internal gains resulting from higher birth rates and longer life expectancies.”

The report says the core cities grew slightly, too. Minneapolis is up to 390,000, up from about 382,000 in 2000; St.  Paul hit 288,000, a gain of 1,200 since 2000.

"We’re pleased to see the central cities remaining stable,” said Council Chair Peter Bell. “We believe that’s an important objective for the region.

"In addition, the region seems to be holding its own in terms of growth, despite one of the most difficult economic times in the history of our nation.  Based on current trends, we may not add the million more people to the region between 2000 and 2030 that was previously forecasted. But we still expect to be pretty close,” Bell said.