While Fulton

County remains the state's most populous county, two southside counties

are closing in on the 100,000 population mark.

Fulton County's

estimated population last July 1 was 816,638, according to U.S. Census

figures released this week. The county picked up just 600 residents between

April 1, 2000 and last year.

One of the

interesting statistics involves fast-growing Coweta County. Coweta's population

is estimated to be 94,571. The county added more than 5,300 residents

in the 14-month survey period.

In contrast,

Fayette County's population is 95,542. Coweta now trails Fayette by less

than 1,000 and could surpass what used to be one of the fastest growing

counties in the state.

Coweta's growth

rate was 6 percent, while Fayette's was 4.7 percent and Fulton's 0.1 percent.

Between April

1, 2000 and July 1, 2001, the nation's fastest-growing counties were mostly

in the South.

About half

of all the counties that grew since Census 2000 are located in the South.

Nine of the

10 counties that have grown the fastest since Census 2000 are in the South:

three in Texas, three in Georgia (Forsyth, Paulding and Henry) and one

each in Virginia, Kentucky and Florida.

Not only are

most of the fastest growing counties located in the South - despite the

fact the West is the fastest growing region - but most of these counties

are close to the major cities of their respective states.

In terms of

population increase since Census 2000, Forsyth County ranked third. This

county reached a milestone of over 100,000 residents between April 1,

2000 and July 1, 2001 by adding nearly 12,000 people.

The largest

county in the nation was Los Angeles County in California with over 9

million residents.