We hate to continue harping on how many people keep coming into the area (well, actually we are kind of fond of doing so), but with new and interesting stories and statistics regarding the Triangle’s population growth popping up all the time, we feel we would be remiss in not giving you the latest news. So here goes.
In our most recent discussion of the topic (see the July 3 entry “Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Keep Growing”), we cited population figures by cities as of July 1, 2006 supplied by the U.S. Census Bureau that indicated Raleigh was now the 51st most populated city in America, up from 61st position in 2000, representing a 25 percent increase in six years. Well, according to a new report from the Raleigh Planning Department’s Growth Management Division, Raleigh now has moved up again in one year to be the 50th most populated city in America.
The division estimated Raleigh’s population as of July 1 of this year at 367,995 people, as compared to the 356,321 estimate given by the U.S. Census for the city a year ago. The division’s estimates are based on the number of dwellings, the average number of people per dwelling, and the dwelling occupancy/vacancy averages in Raleigh.
The growth pushed Raleigh past Wichita, Kansas, nationally, and now Raleigh is the ninth-largest city in the South behind Jacksonville, Fla., Memphis, Tenn., Charlotte, Louisville, Ky., Nashville, Tenn., Atlanta, Virginia Beach, Va., and Miami.
“Raleigh continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States,” Raleigh Planning Director Mitchell Silver said in a statement. “If our growth rate continues, we project that Raleigh will pass Arlington, Texas, Minneapolis and Colorado Springs, Colo., next year.” If that does occur, Raleigh has a solid shot of becoming the 45th most populated city in America by the time the 2010 Census gives an official count. (As of this writing, Durham, Chapel Hill and other major Triangle towns have not provided any new estimates on their population, but all have been gaining residents every year.)
Some of that growth in Raleigh has been on account of a baby boom, according to an article yesterday in The News & Observer. Reporter Todd Silberman found that “For every two people who move to Wake County, another arrives as the ultimate newcomer – a newborn. In all, nearly 13,000 babies were born last year to Wake residents – an average of about 35 a day. No other Triangle county averages more than a dozen births daily.”
Silberman noted that Wake’s birth rate ranked third in the nation among fast-growing counties with population over 500,000, according to the latest U.S. Census data. Naturally, this explosion of infants has caught some in the county off guard, but there are others who have accommodated for the newcomers and adjusted accordingly, such as a large growth in practicing pediatricians.
More people, more babies, more growth – such is the norm nowadays for the Triangle. So expect us to give you a similar update on this progress a few weeks from now. There is too much good news going on here not to let you know about it.
Any new stats on growth?
Posted by: Bryan Land | July 25, 2009 at 04:59 PM