Cherokee Tribune
By Barbara P. Jacoby
03/20/2009

The sluggish economy hasn’t stopped Cherokee County’s growth, but it did slow it down.
U.S. Census Bureau figures released Thursday show Cherokee still is among the 100 fastest-growing counties nationwide with populations of more than 10,000.

The county ranked at No. 64 for its population growth of 3.4 percent – or 6,859 people – rising to 210,529 in July from 203,670 in July 2007.

The total means, on average, more than 18 people moved to Cherokee every day.

Last year at this time, the county was ranked much higher: at No. 18 for its growth of 5.3 percent or 10,281 people.

For the last year, St. Bernard Parish, La., saw the country’s biggest population leap of 12.8 percent or 4,283 people.

Cherokee also remains among the top 25 long-term, fastest-growing counties, according to the new report.

The county comes in at No. 22 nationwide for its population growth of 48.4 percent – or 68,626 people – from 141,903 in April 2000 to 210,529 in July.

Kendall County, Ill., leads the long-term list with a population boom of 89.6 percent or 48,900 people over the last eight years.

County Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens said 3.4 percent is about what he expected. The economy, he said, is hindering home sales for people who want to relocate to Cherokee and elsewhere in north Georgia.

“Cherokee is and will remain an attractive location to live – and hopefully to work,” he said. “We are close enough to Atlanta, per se, but just look north to the mountains and east or west to the lakes… it is a peaceful, stimulating, invigorating environment.”

He also noted the efforts under way to improve Cherokee’s amenities like the retail growth, development of more office and industrial parks and expansion of the county’s airport, recreation system and arts and culture options. That, he said, is on top of the low taxes, high-scoring schools, strong housing values and options and ample water supply.

Misti Whitfield Martin, executive director of the Development Authority of Cherokee County, said she sees 3.4 percent as a “manageable rate” that still keeps the county in the top 100.

“In today’s economy, I think that is encouraging,” she said. “It tells us that people still value the lifestyle and quality that Cherokee County offers. This will continue to help our economic development efforts as we expand our talented workforce.”

Pam Carnes, president and CEO of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, noted making the top 100 list comes on the heels of the Gallup poll showing Cherokee residents are the happiest in the country.

“The way we look at it is, ‘Why would someone not want to move here?’” she said, adding that were it not for the economy, Cherokee’s rate still would be “full speed ahead.”

But due to the economy, she said, not as many people are willing to relocate, especially without a job.

“We would get people who would say, ‘I was ready for a change,’ ‘I wanted to move to the South,’” she said. “But I don’t think as many people are doing that because of uncertain economic times.”

Despite its drop in the rankings, Cherokee remains in a very enviable position, according to Mrs. Carnes.

“Many communities would love to have these rankings,” she said.