Peachtree

City is one of the fastest-growing cities in the

state of Georgia during the 1990s, according to

statistics released this week by the U.S. Census

Bureau.

From

19,027 in the 1990 census, Peachtree City has

shot up to 31,086 in 1998 census estimates, a

63.4 percent leap that is sixth-highest in the

state among cities with a population of 10,000 or

more.

Alpharetta

has had the most explosive growth in the 1990s,

nearly doubling from 13,002 to 24,831, a jump of

91 percent. Kingsland has grown 90 percent to

11,584 during that time.

Duluth

is third at 80.5 percent, followed by Kennesaw

and St. Marys.

Peachtree

City is trailed by Powder Springs, Douglasville,

Snellville and Hinesville, near Savannah.

The

northern side of metro Atlanta is well

represented on this list. Alpharetta is in north

Fulton County, while Gwinnett County is home to

Duluth and Snellville. Kennesaw and Powder

Springs are in Cobb County.

Kingland

and St. Marys are both located in Camden County,

in the southeastern corner of Georgia just north

of Jacksonville. Camden County was the second

fastest-growing in the United States during the

early part of this decade, thanks mostly to the

U.S. Navy's submarine base located there.

Hinesville

is the home of Fort Stewart, a large U.S. Army

installation. It is just west of Savannah and

south of Statesboro.

Among

the 15 most populated cities in Georgia (see

chart), Peachtree City has had by far the highest

percentage of growth.

Atlanta's

population has increased 2.5 percent since 1990,

while Savannah and Albany have actually seen a

decrease in population.

Fayette

County has seen a 40 percent jump to a July 1998

estimate of 88,609. While that is a sizable

increase, it is eclipsed by neighboring Coweta,

which has grown 55.9 percent to 85,028.

Georgia's 10

fastest-growing cities

(population

over 10,000)

City

1998 pop. 1990 pop. pct. growth

1.

Alpharetta 24,831 13,002 91.0

2.

Kingsland 11,584 6,089 90.2

3.

Duluth 17,722 9,821 80.5

4.

Kennesaw 15,655 8,936 75.2

5.

St. Marys 13,823 8,204 68.5

6.

Peachtree City 31,086 19,027 63.4

7.

Powder Springs 10,836 6,862 57.9

8.

Douglasville 16,073 11,635 38.1

9.

Snellville 15,703 12,084 29.9

10.

Hinesville 26,435 21,596 22.4

Georgia's 15 largest

cities

City

1998 est.

1.

Atlanta 403,819

2.

Augusta* 187,689

3.

Columbus 182,219

4.

Savannah 131,674

5.

Macon 114,336

6.

Athens* 89,631

7.

Albany 77,545

8.

Roswell 57,102

9.

Marietta 51,362

10.

W. Robins 46,698

11.

Valdosta 41,390

12.

Smyrna 35,899

13.

East Point 33,670

14.

PTC 31,086

15.

Rome 30,899

*includes

entire county

<!--

-----------