Fayette

County's population continues to increase at a

steady rate of about 4 percent a year, according

to the latest estimates.

Unofficial

estimates released last week by the Atlanta

Regional Commission put Fayette's population at

94,700 as of April, up 3,800 from the 1999

estimate of 90,900, a rise of 4.2 percent.

That's

good news for county planners. "It's better

to have a steady rate than those big ups and

downs," said Pete Frisina, senior planner in

the county Planning Department.

Those

big ups and downs occurred in the 1980s, with

Fayette at one time during that period listed

among the nation's fastest growing counties.

In

fact, during the '80s decade, Fayette's

population more than doubled, from 29,043 to

62,800 in the 1990 Census, averaging more than 10

percent a year.

The

'90s have been much calmer in terms of

percentages. "There was a slight dip in the

early `90s, then it bounced back up and we've

been rolling along at really pretty much the same

rate all decade," said Frisina.

Growth

from 62,800 to 94,700 is a little over 50

percent, averaging about 5 percent each year. But

while the percentage growth drops, the population

growth in terms of numbers has remained about the

same throughout the last two decades, averaging

about 3,000 to 3,500 each year.

For

planning purposes, this year's estimate carries

no big surprises, said Frisina. The ARC's Vision

2020 program in 1994 projected population growth

through 2020, and the county is on track to reach

about 174,000 as predicted, he said.

When

the U.S. Bureau of the Census finishes its work

on the 2000 census, the figures will be adjusted

slightly, but the ARC estimate will probably be

fairly close, Frisina predicted. "Population

projections and estimates are just that," he

said, "but they're not that far off. Even

the Census is not 100 percent accurate."

The

Census did provide some of the data for the ARC

estimates. The Bureau of the Census produced

adjusted 1990 Census counts for all levels of

geography down to the census block level, but

decided neither to use them nor to release them

to the public.

But

those numbers were released under threat of

congressional subpoena. ARC used this sample of

block data to adjusted 1990 Census figures.

As

for the bigger picture, some counties in the

Atlanta region are adding people at a faster pace

than Fayette's, while others have slowed

considerably.

But

the entire region's growth from 1999 to 2000 is

the second highest in history, at 99,100,

bringing the total population to 3.3 million. The

region includes Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb,

Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and

Rockdale counties.

"This

is the fastest growing area in the nation. Since

1994, the Atlanta region has added more than

500,000 residents," said Bart Lewis, chief

of ARC's Research Division. "This

unprecedented period of rapid, steady population

growth is a result of a strong regional economy

and a high quality of life."

The

largest population gain for the region occurred

between April of 1994 and 1995, when the region

recorded 105,500 new residents.

Giant

Gwinnett County continues to lead the region in

population growth, adding 193,000 persons during

the '90s.

Because

of its small land area and local government

policies that discourage high-density

development, Fayette will never post the large

population figures that counties like Cobb and

Gwinnett are seeing, said Frisina. "We're

still a little fish in a big pond," he said.

The

new regional estimates will not become official

until they are considered and adopted by the ARC

Board, scheduled Wednesday, Aug. 23.

ARC

produces a variety of statistical estimates,

forecasts and reports on the 10-county Atlanta

region, in addition to the annual population and

housing estimates. Much of this information is

available online at www.

atlantaregional.com or by phoning ARC's

information center at 404-463-3102.

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