Population boom continues around state's urban centers

Union County again leads N.C. in growth; population drops in 18 rurals since April 2000

• N.C. county population estimates and rates of growth (XLS)

As North Carolina continues its climb to a projected population of more than 12.2 million by 2030, the perceived divide between the "two North Carolinas" is widening. The July 2008 population estimates, released March 19 by the U.S. Census Bureau, reveal that between April 2000 and July 2008, 25 Tar Heel counties either grew by less than 1 percent or decreased in population. Union County grew by a whopping 56 percent during that same timeframe, and 15 others grew by more than 20 percent.

In the past several legislative sessions, counties have argued for additional revenue options and for protection of existing revenue sources in order to help pay for infrastructure related in part to the unprecedented rate of growth the state is experiencing. By 2030, the Census Bureau estimates North Carolina's population to reach 12,227,739 – which would make the Tar Heel State the seventh most populous in the United States.

The state's growth is concentrated around the urban areas of Charlotte and Raleigh. The Census Bureau said that the Raleigh-Cary urban area, which includes Wake and parts of surrounding counties, was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the nation from July 2007 through July 2008, adding more than 44,000 residents.

Nine North Carolina counties ranked among the top 100 fastest-growing counties from July 2007 through July 2008, and seven of those counties were in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (No. 16 Union and No. 62 Cabarrus) or Raleigh-Wake (No. 26 Wake, No. 37 Johnston, No. 86 Chatham, No. 91 Franklin and No. 98 Harnett) metro areas. The other two surrounded the Wilmington-New Hanover region (No. 39 Brunswick County and No. 97 Pender County).

But the state's growth is starting to impact more and more rural areas. Hoke County, nestled in the southern sandhills portion of the state, ranked No. 94 in percentage of growth among the top 100 counties with at least 10,000 residents.

Don Porter, the economic development director for Hoke County, said the county is benefitting from the increased military presence at Fort Bragg in neighboring Cumberland County as well as spillover from the population boon in Wake County.

"For Hoke County this is really nothing new," Porter told the The News-Journal of Raeford. "I've been here 10 years, and we have been one of the fastest growing counties since I've been here. It's going to continue. The future is bright.

"When you look at the region, there is something for everybody. The good news is, although we are in an economic downturn, our leaders, both city and county, are visionaries enough to know these times don't last and now is not the time to try to cut your way to prosperity. I'm just delighted to see the commitment to infrastructure."

In addition to Union (No. 13), four North Carolina counties made the top 100 list of fastest-growing counties with 10,000 or more residents from April 2000 through July 2008: Brunswick (No. 37, 41 percent), Wake (No. 50, 38 percent), Johnston (No. 77, 34 percent), and Currituck (No. 82, 32.9 percent).

Eighteen counties saw a decline in population over the same timeframe: Anson, Bertie, Caswell, Columbus, Edgecombe, Graham, Halifax, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Northampton, Pamlico, Richmond, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren and Washington.