Alabaster officials have submitted figures to the United States Census Bureau that they believe will show the city has about 2,000 more residents than recorded by the last census.

The city first challenged the 2000 census findings last April after results showed Alabaster having 22,619 residents.

Census estimates released in 1998 had the city’s population at more than 26,000 residents.

Several city officials have said they believe the census undercounted because some Alabaster residents living within city limits have addresses with zip codes of neighboring towns.

The city had enlisted the help of census officials at the University of Alabama to perform a block-by-block breakdown of the bureau count.

Councilman Adam Moseley said the findings were submitted to the U.S. Census Bureau last week and officials expect a response soon.

The city’s count found at least 25,000 residents, less than the 27,000 to 28,000 officials had predicted but well over the census count.

Moseley said at least part of the reason for the miscount was the fact that several subdivisions incorporated into the city since the 1990 census were left out of the 2000 count.

&uot;We found a lot of discrepancies,&uot; he said.

If the city’s challenge is successful, revised census numbers likely would put Alabaster in a better position to compete for state and federal grants and appropriations.

Accurate population figures are also helpful in attracting business and industry, Moseley said