PALMDALE–According to figures released from the Department of Finance, Palmdale added more than 5,000 people to its popula­tion in 2008, making it the fastest-growing mid-sized city in California. The city’s population jumped from 146,209 in 2007 to 151,346 in 2008, a rise of 3.5%. “It’s an honor and very encouraging to see so many people chose to make Palmdale their place to call home,” City Manager Steve Williams said. “As Palmdale continues to be among the fastest-growing cities in Los Angeles Coun­ty, we will continue to work diligently toward managing our growth effectively and provide all our residents with transparent, fiscally sound and efficient government.” Lancaster’s population rose 1.1% from 143,512 to 145,074. Tehachapi was the state’s fourth-fastest growing city based on percentages, climbing 4.4% to 13,631, making it Kern County’s eighth-largest city. California City, which grew 9.6% in 2007, remained Kern’s seventh largest city. Population in 2008 increased from 14,330 to 14,828, a 3.5% jump.