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County population continues steady rise
By Peggy Blackburn - Managing Editor
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Traffic at busy intersections such as U.S. Highway 231 and South Main Street in Wetumpka is indicative of the explosive population growth in Elmore County. -- Special to the Herald/Barry Chrietzberg
Figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau confirmed what local officials already believed n Elmore County’s population is continuing to increase at a rate faster than the majority of the state.
“I’m not surprised that Elmore County continues to hold the rank of fourth fastest-growing county in Alabama,” said Joe Faulk, chairman of the Elmore County Commission.
“I think we’re all very aware of our continued state of growth,” said Wetumpka Mayor Jo Glenn. “I’m very excited about the positive trend.”
And however the figures are compared, Elmore County is one of the top counties in Alabama in terms of population growth. According to the Census Bureau’s annual estimates of population of Alabama counties, the number of local residents has increased by 11,651 between April 2000 and July 2007.
That number represents an upswing from 65,874 to 77,525, a 17.7 percent gain over the seven-year period. In terms of percent increase, Shelby County was first at 27.1 percent, Baldwin County second at 22.3 percent and St. Clair County third at 20.6 percent.
Elmore County was fourth in percentage growth and Autauga County was fifth at 14.4 percent. The overall population increase in Alabama was 4.1 percent.
When gain was measured only for one year, Elmore County’s estimated population grew from 75,481 to 77,525. St. Clair County saw the largest percentage of increase between 2006 and 2007 at 4.1 percent. Limestone was second at 3 percent, Shelby third at 2.7 percent, Elmore fourth - also at 2.7 percent and Coffee fifth at 2.5 percent. Autauga County was 10th at 1.7 percent. The state’s population growth between 2006 and 2007 was .8 percent.
In strictly numerical terms Elmore County’s 11,651 new citizens made it seventh in population increase from 2000 to 2007.
Shelby County was first with an additional 38,820 people, Madison added 35,763, Baldwin increased by 31.354, Lee grew by 15,392, St. Clair swelled by 13,312 and Tuscaloosa gained 13,031. Neighboring Autauga County added 6,289 people in the same time period, the 10th-highest increase.
Elmore County’s 2,044 population rise from 2006 to 2007 was the ninth largest in the state numerically. The top eight counties in growth during the period were, respectively, Madison, Shelby, Baldwin, St. Clair, Lee, Tuscaloosa, Mobile and Limestone.
“Since taking office nearly eight years ago, our goal as a commission has been to prepare for this unprecedented population growth,” said Faulk. “The citizens of Elmore County recognized the impact this kind of growth would have on our community and have supported our plans to stay ahead of the growth.”
The Census Bureau is not scheduled to release new city population figures until June. Numbers published in 2007, showed increases in county municipalities across the board.
Estimated population growth from April 2000, to July 6, 2006 was: Millbrook, 11,033 to 15,580; Wetumpka, 5,792 to 7,313; Tallassee, 4,925 to 5,072;Coosada, 1,410 to 1,567; Eclectic, 1,037 to 1,134; Elmore, 486 to 524; and Deatsville, 340 to 366.
