PeopleBusinessGeographyNewsroomSubjects A to Z Search@Census

  EMBARGOED UNTIL: 12:01 A.M., EDT, APRIL 17, 2003 (THURSDAY)

Robert Bernstein                                                 CB03-65
Public Information Office                                                       
(301) 763-3030/457-3670 (fax)                
(301) 457-1037 (TDD)
e-mail: pio@census.gov                         Quotes & radio sound bites 

 
                  Texas County Fastest-Growing in Nation
                                
  Rockwall County, near Dallas, recorded the fastest growth (7.9 percent)
of any county in the nation for the period July 1, 2001, to July 1, 2002,
the Commerce Department's Census Bureau reported today.  The Texas
county's growth rate was seven times as fast as the nation's (1.1
percent).

  According to the estimates, two northern Virginia counties, Loudoun (2nd)
and Stafford (9th), both in the Washington, D.C., area, and three counties in
the Atlanta vicinity, Henry (3rd), Forsyth (4th) and Newton (7th), registered
strong growth for the 2001-2002 period.

  Loudoun was not far behind Rockwall, with a growth rate of 7.3 percent
from 2001 to 2002; Stafford broke into the top 10 with a growth rate of
6.2 percent. Henry, Forsyth and Newton counties' rates of growth were 7.1
percent, 7.1 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively.

  Another East Coast county, Flagler, near Daytona Beach, Fla., ranked No.
5 in growth at 6.9 percent. Douglas County (outside Denver), Colo., which
was 6th with a rate of 6.8 percent; Scott County (in the Minneapolis-St.
Paul area), which was 8th with a rate of 6.4 percent; and Delaware County
(near Columbus, Ohio), which was 10th at 6.1 percent, rounded out the top
10.

  Overall, 61 percent of all 3,141 U.S. counties grew over the one-year
period. Seven of the 10 counties whose population increased the fastest
are in the South.

10 Fastest-Growing Counties in U.S. by Percent Increase: July 1, 2001, 
to July 1, 2002

  Among the 10 most populous counties, five were also among the 10
counties with the largest numerical population gains between 2001 and
2002. Los Angeles County was both the most populous county, with 9.8
million residents, as well as the largest numerical gainer, with an
increase of 129,000. The other counties which made both lists were
Maricopa (Phoenix), in Arizona; Orange and San Diego, both in California;
and Harris (Houston), in Texas.
                                  
10 Most Populous Counties in U.S.: July 1, 2002

  Other highlights:

    - Of the 100 fastest-growing counties with 10,000 or 
      more residents -- 63 are in the South, 18 in the West, 17 in the Midwest 
      and two in the Northeast.

    - More than half of the counties in the Northeast 
      have 100,000 or more residents, while one-third of those in the West have 
      less than 10,000 residents. 

    - All but one of New Jersey's 21 counties have 100,000 or more residents. 

    - The sum of the populations in the 10 most populous 
      counties is larger than the population of the nation's largest state, 
      California (37.2 million versus 35.1 million). 

    - Over one-fifth of the nation's counties have less than 10,000 residents. 


   The Census Bureau tables on the Internet show 2001 and 2002 population estimates, 
rankings and components of change for all counties. The new numbers, which use 
administrative data and estimates for births, deaths and net migration, are based on 
population counts from Census 2000.

Data ToolsCatalogCensus 2000QualityPrivacy PolicyContact UsHome