GROWTH SLOWS

Population growth has slowed in metro Atlanta as the housing slump takes its toll, new figures from the Atlanta Regional Commission show.

The 10-county Atlanta region posted its lowest annual population gain —- 70,200 people —- since 2003, according to ARC estimates issued Thursday. That gain is 16 percent lower than the annual average increase of almost 84,000 for the decade to date.

The ARC measured population growth from April 1, 2007, to April 1, 2008. It estimated the population based on the number of housing units built in each county. Many counties saw a decrease in building permits and construction, reflecting the downturn in the housing market and the economy in general, ARC research chief Mike Alexander said.

The exception to the growth slowdown was the city of Atlanta, which continued its population boom. Since 2000, Atlanta has added an estimated 60,826 people. “That’s explosive growth for the city,” Alexander said.

In Gwinnett County, population grew at a slower rate than usual. The county added only 12,600 people last year, compared to its usual addition of 20,544 new residents per year, according to ARC estimates.

Cherokee County posted the highest growth rate for the year, 3.2 percent, but that was down from its average annual rate of 4.6 percent for the decade. Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Henry and Rockdale counties also grew at slower rates than usual, with Fayette’s growth slipping to just 600 new residents for the year, or 0.6 percent.

Fulton County’s growth rate was flat, while DeKalb and Cobb counties grew at slightly faster-than-average rates. A significant portion of DeKalb’s growth was due to multifamily units, Alexander said.

In Atlanta, growth came from an influx of young professionals and empty-nesters. The percentage of white residents also has increased after many decades of population decline that started in the 1970s. Also, in the past year, for the first time, Atlanta added more new residents than Gwinnett County.

The city of Atlanta added 13,100 new residents for a growth rate of 2.8 percent.

Atlanta had not grown for decades, but increased its population 15 percent in just eight years, Alexander said.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently pegged the city of Atlanta’s population at 519,145, while the ARC put it at 477,300.

Different methodologies account for the difference in the estimates, Alexander said.

 WALTER CUMMING / Staff 
HOUSING WOES TRANSLATE INTO SLOWER POPULATION GROWTH 
Metro Atlanta saw a slowdown in population growth in the past year, but the city of Atlanta is still booming. 

CHEROKEE 
Population 2007: 196,700 
Population 2008: 203,000 
New residents: 6,300 
% increase: 3.2 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 4.6 

COBB 
Population 2007: 664,700 
Population 2008: 674,200 
New residents: 9,500 
% increase: 1.4 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 1.3

DOUGLAS 
Population 2007: 125,800 
Population 2008: 127,800 
New residents: 2,000 
% Increase: 1.6 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 4.2 

FULTON 
Population 2007: 933,600 
Population 2008: 951,500 
New residents: 17,900 
% increase: 1.9 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 1.9 

FAYETTE 
Population 2007: 105,400 
Population 2008: 106,000 
New residents: 600 
% increase: 0.6 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 1.9 

CLAYTON 
Population 2007: 275,500 
Population 2008: 281,400 
New residents: 5,900 
% increase: 2.1 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 2.2 

GWINNETT 
Population 2007: 740,200 
Population 2008: 752,800 
New residents: 12,600 
% increase: 1.7 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 3.1 

DEKALB 
Population 2007: 718,400 
Population 2008: 727,600 
New residents: 9,200 
% increase: 1.3 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 1.1 

ROCKDALE 
Population 2007: 83,400 
Population 2008: 84,600 
New residents: 1,200 
% increase: 1.4 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 2.4 

CITY OF ATLANTA 
Population 2007: 462,200 
Population 2008: 447,300 
New residents: 13,100 
% increase: 2.8 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 1.7 

HENRY 
Population 2007: 185,700 
Population 2008: 190,700 
New residents: 5,000 
% increase: 2.7 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 6.0 

METRO REGION 
Population 2007: 4,029,400 
Population 2008: 4,099,600 
New residents: 70,200 
% increase: 1.7 
Average annual % increase, 2000-08: 2.3

Note: Population figures differ from U.S. Census Bureau estimates because of different methodologies used. 
Graphic includes a map of metro Atlanta locating the counties named in the text. 
Source: Atlanta Regional Commission estimates