A population growth report released by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) shows that Fayette and each of the 10 core metro Atlanta counties are adding to the number of residents. For Fayette, the report estimates the addition of 1,600 residents in the past year, with a population total of more than 112,000.
A review of population gains by ARC showed that Fayette in April 2015 had approximately 110,700 residents. That number had increased a year later to 112,300, according to ARC.
Similar growth in Fayette was seen since the census in 2010. Fayette in the census had a population of 106,567. The county experienced a 3.9 percent increase by 2015 to 110,714 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The 10-county region added 69,200 residents between April 2015 and April 2016, according to the ARC’s latest annual population estimates, pushing the total 10-county population to 4,401,800, according to ARC.
In terms of population in 2016, the study showed:
• Fulton – 958,700
• Gwinnett – 877,100
• Cobb – 737,500
• DeKalb – 725,000
• Clayton – 270,600
• Cherokee – 240,100
• Henry – 223,600
• Douglas – 139,000
• Fayette – 112,300
• Rockdale – 90,900
The region’s population grew at a faster rate than any time since the recession, increasing by 1.6 percent, compared to 1.4 percent (60,300) in 2015 and 1.2 percent (52,700) in 2014, ARC said.
Showing the effects of the Great Recession, the 10-county area grew by only 31,500 residents during the 2009-2010 period.
“These latest ARC population estimates show that the Atlanta region is resilient and continues to be a place of opportunity and a magnet for people seeking a high quality of life,” said ARC Chairman Kerry Armstrong.
The population increase is being fueled by strong employment growth. The 29-county Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area added nearly 77,000 jobs between May 2015 and May 2016, the third-highest total among the nation’s largest metro areas.
“As always, more jobs means more people,” said Mike Carnathan, manager of ARC’s Research and Analytics Division. “Newcomers are increasingly attracted to our region as our economy picks up steam, post-recession.”
