Metro Atlanta population increases by 75,800 new residents in 2017

Metro Atlanta added 75,800 new residents in the last year, an indication of a thriving local economy supportive of migrating populations.

According to an annual report by the Atlanta Regional Commission, a planning agency for the Atlanta region, the region’s population grew by 1.7 percent, raising the 10-county Metro Atlanta area population estimate to slightly over 4.5 million residents.

The report attributed the regions growing population to a healthy job market.

All ten Metro Atlanta counties -- Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Cobb , Cherokee, Henry, Clayton, Fayette, Douglas and Rockdale -- reported significant population growth within the past year.

Fulton County had the highest population growth, adding 17,570 new residents. Cherokee and Henry counties recorded the highest suburban growth rates, while the city of Atlanta added 10,100 new residents, up from 9,900 the previous year.