Flagler, Fla., located along the Atlantic coast between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, was the nation’s fastest-growing county between July 1, 2003, and July 1, 2004, experiencing a 10.1 percent population increase, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Florida led all states with 14 of the nation’s 100 fastest-growing counties.

     According to the estimates, St. Johns, Fla., which borders Flagler to the north, was the ninth fastest-growing county between 2003 and 2004, with a population increase of 6.7 percent. Half of the remaining top-10 fastest-growing counties were located in either the South or West: Loudoun, Va., near Washington, D.C., ranked third in growth with a rate of 8.1 percent; Lampasas, Texas (north of Austin), sixth with 7.3 percent; Lyon, Nev. (near Carson City), seventh at 7.2 percent; and Camden, N.C. (south of Norfolk, Va.), eighth at 7.2 percent. (See Table 1. Excel | PDF)

     Rounding out the top-10 fastest-growing counties between July 2003 and July 2004 were four counties in the Midwest: Kendall, Ill. (in the Chicago area), second at 8.3 percent; Hanson, S.D., and Lincoln, S.D. (both near Sioux Falls), fourth and fifth, respectively, at 7.9 percent and 7.5 percent; and Dallas, Iowa (west of Des Moines), 10th at 6.6 percent.

     Los Angeles, Calif., continued to be the most populous county in the nation, with 9.9 million residents on July 1, 2004. The largest numerical gainer over the 2003-2004 period was Maricopa (Phoenix), Ariz., which added 112,000 residents. (See Table 2. Excel | PDF) These two counties and Harris (Houston), Texas, were the only counties that ranked in the top-10 in both categories — total population and numerical increase.

     Other highlights:

• Of the 100 fastest-growing counties between 2003 and 2004, 60 were located in the South, 23 in the West and 17 in the Midwest. None were in the Northeast.
• Joining Florida in having at least 10 counties among the 100 fastest-growing were Georgia and Texas (12 each) and Virginia (10).
• Twenty-one states did not have any counties among the 100 fastest-growing.
• California and Texas each had three counties among the top-10 numerical gainers. Only one county on this list — Will, Ill., near Chicago — was located outside the South or West.
• Of the 100 most populous counties in 2004, 32 were located in the South, 27 in the Northeast, 25 in the West and 16 in the Midwest.
• California (15) had the most counties among the 100 most populous, followed by New York (nine), Texas (eight) and Florida (seven).
• Twenty states did not have any counties among the 100 most populous.

     The Census Bureau’s Internet tables show July 1 population estimates for 2000 through 2004, as well as the April 1, 2000, census counts. Also included are rankings and estimates of components of population change (births, deaths, net internal migration and net international migration) for all counties.

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The new numbers, which use administrative data and estimates for births, deaths and net migration, are based on Census 2000 population counts updated to reflect any official census corrections.