by Think Currituck, on 8/23/21 2:01 PM
Since the 2010 national census, Currituck County has become an increasingly thriving locality.
More specifically, Currituck is now ranked the 8th fastest-growing county of North Carolina, according to a recent analysis by News & Observer reporters Richard Stradling and David Raynor. Their source of information is from the U.S. Census Bureau, which on Aug. 12 provided details from its 2020 counting.
States will use the preliminary data to begin redistricting on the local, legislative and congressional levels. More information for that purpose is anticipated from the national agency on Sept. 30.
First, though, a look at some of the population increases and decreases in the Old North State. What is perhaps not surprising is that there's been significant growth in and around the capital of Raleigh, as well as metropolitan Charlotte and Wilmington.
In its QuickFacts section, the census bureau reported that as of April 1, 2020:
- Wake County, where Raleigh is located, had 1,129,140 people, a 25.35% boost since that same date in 2010.
- Neighboring Johnston County had 215,999 people, a 27.9% increase since April 1, 2010.
- Close by, Durham County had 321,488 people, a 21.4% growth from the same date in 2010.
- Westward, Cabarrus County had 225,804 people, and saw a 26.8% increase since the previous census.
- Nearby Mecklenburg County, where Charlotte is located, had 1,115,482 people, a 21.3% growth from April 1, 2010.
- Southward, Brunswick County, where Wilmington is located, had 136,693 people, a 27.2% increase since the previous census.
As noted above, Currituck County is growing, with 28,100 people, a 19.3% increase from April 1, 2010.
In stark contrast, Tyrell County's population had shrunk to 3,245 people, a 26.4% decrease since the previous census. Hyde County's numbers were down to 4,589, a 21% decline since April 1, 2010. Northampton County's population was at 17,471, a 20.9% drop since the previous census.
All three are rural, largely in the eastern part of the state, and not far removed from the magnetic Research Triangle and Brunswick County.
Stradling and Raynor quoted Jim Johnson Jr., a professor at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, located in Chapel Hill. Studying demographics, he points to the metropolitan areas as places of higher learning as well as a desirable lifestyle and a comparatively affordable economy. All that, Johnson added, has attracted a younger population.
Another source for the reporters was Rebecca Tippett, who leads Carolina Demography, which is a service of the Carolina Population Center at UNC Chapel Hill.
A recent Carolina Demography blog post pointed out that, "Between 2010 and 2020, North Carolina’s population grew from 9,535,483 to 10,439,483, an increase of 903,905 or 9.5%. Over this same period, 51 North Carolina counties lost population (for a total combined loss of 147,224) and 49 counties gained population (a total combined gain of 1,051,129)."
Don't look for that growth/decline pattern to shift back any time soon. Just in the past 1-1/2 years — in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic — those metropolitan areas have been experiencing the imminent arrival of many new industries, such as Apple's East Coast headquarters, or expansion of existing businesses, including Fidelity Investments.
