08/15/2008
Cherokee Tribune
By Barbara P. Jacoby
Cherokee Tribune Managing Editor

While the housing slump slowed Cherokee’s population boom in the past year, the county still saw the highest percentage of growth in metro Atlanta.

Cherokee added 6,300 people to its rolls between April 1, 2007, and last April, which breaks down to 17 newcomers a day, according to a report released Thursday by the Atlanta Regional Commission.

The county’s population now tops 203,000, up from 196,700 a year ago and 141,903 in 2000. A longer-range view proves more staggering: Cherokee’s population is more than double 1990′s 91,000 and nearly four times that of 1980′s 51,699.

Although the population continues to soar, the number of people who moved to Cherokee in the past year dropped 18 percent from the 7,637 person-per-year pace set so far this decade.

“The 3.2-percent growth, while slower than previous years, is good news for the county. While many areas of the country are experiencing stagnant or negative growth, Cherokee County continues to grow,” County Manager Jerry Cooper said, noting Cherokee’s 18-percent decline still is “much less severe” than other areas of metro Atlanta.

In comparison, Fayette County’s growth came in at 67-percent slower in the past year than its 1,800 person-per-year pace set this decade, and Douglas dropped 55 percent from its 4,500 person-per-year pace. Henry County’s growth is 44 percent slower than its 8,900 person-per-year pace, and Rockdale declined 34 percent from 1,811 people per year.

The report, which examines the 10-county Atlanta region’s growth in the past year, shows the effects of the home-building slowdown.

While the region’s population increased by 70,200 people, it was the smallest increase since 2003 and 16 percent lower than the annual average increase of this decade. The 10-county metro area now is home to 4.09 million people.

Henry County, with 2.7 percent and 5,000 newcomers, and Clayton County with 2.1 percent and 5,900 newcomers, came the closest to Cherokee’s No. 1 growth rate.

Fulton County led the region in population growth last year, adding 17,900 new residents for a population of 951,500, significantly slower at 1.9 percent than the previous year’s 33,000-person increase.

“This is the first significant slowdown in metro Atlanta’s growth since the recession earlier this decade,” ARC Research Chief Mike Alexander said. “We rebounded then and we certainly expect to rebound this time.”

Realtor Diane Galvin of Re/Max, president-elect of the Cherokee Association of Realtors, said homebuyers are choosing Cherokee for several main reasons.

“A lot of people who are coming out of the cities are looking for a little land and little more space to spread out,” she said, adding that good schools, low taxes and home pricing seal the deal.

Cooper said he expects the local economy and growth rate soon may pick up even more speed.

“The market correction appears to be bottoming out throughout the country and Cherokee County with an expected rebound in 2009,” he said.
bjacoby@cherokeetribune.com