08/22/2008
Cherokee Tribune
Staff Writer

Cherokee County is one of the top 15 fastest-growing counties in the United States, according to a new Census report.

Cherokee is ranked at No. 14 in the list of the top 100 counties, which was released Thursday and based on housing unit growth between April 2000 and July 2007.

During that period, Cherokee grew by 52 percent to a total of 78,925 housing units. In comparison, housing units nationwide increased 10.4 percent between 2000 and 2007.

“It’s great news,” Pam Carnes, president and chairwoman of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, said of the ranking. “Any time data like this is released, I feel it causes people to take a look at Cherokee.”

Mrs. Carnes said the report could lead people to research Cherokee and choose it for opening or relocating a business or for their new home.

“It’s great publicity for us,” she said. “You can’t buy that kind of advertising.”

County Commissioner Jim Hubbard said he thinks being labeled a fast-growing county gives leaders an edge when pursuing industry.

“Even though I would like to slow it down a little, and I think we are, it’s a good indication we are a strong county,” Hubbard said of the growth rate. “I hate to play the cliche, but it’s a good place to live, work and play.”

Hubbard compared the news to a report card that “shows we get an A” for local leaders’ efforts to build quality schools, parks and other infrastructure while keeping taxes low.

He said the county’s combination of rural communities “where people know their neighbors” and more dense communities for people who “want a town home and no lawn maintenance” give it wide appeal.

The fastest growing county in the country is Flagler County, Fla., which grew by 98.2 percent to 48,454 units.

Twenty-three Georgia counties including Cherokee made the list. Five of them ranked ahead of Cherokee: Paulding in third place, Henry County in sixth, Forsyth County in seventh, Newton County in 11th and Fannin County in 13th.

Cherokee earlier this year was ranked by the Census at No. 18 on the list of counties with the fastest population growth nationwide.

The county’s population soared to an estimated 204,363 by July of 2007 from 194,082 in July of 2006 - a change of 10,281 people and a 5.3-percent increase.

Between April of 2000 and July of 2007, Cherokee added 62,460 residents for a growth rate of 44 percent, ranking it No. 21 on the national list for that period, up from No. 24 in last year’s report.