Study Named Forsyth Fastest Growing County In GA

FORSYTH COUNTY, GA — Although the U.S. annual population growth recently hit its lowest level in 80 years, some places have been growing steadily for years, including Forsyth County.

There are nearly 18.5 million more people living in the United States today than there were in 2010, a 6 percent increase, according to a recent study done by 24/7 Wall St.

In Forsyth County, the statistics are:

• Largest place in county: Cumming
• 2010-2018 pop. change: +34.8 percent (175,511 to 236,612)
• 2010-2018 pop. change, Georgia: +8.6 percent (9.7 million to 10.5 million)
• 2010-2018 pop. change due to migration: +50,075
• 2018 unemployment: 3.1 percent (state: 3.9 percent)

Even states with modest or negative population growth have at least one county home to more people now than in 2010. Here is a list of the fastest growing (and shrinking) states, the study said.

Reviewing population change figures from the U.S. Census Bureau from April 2010 through July 2018, 24/7 Wall St. identified the fastest growing county in each state. County equivalents like parishes and boroughs were also considered.

Natural growth — births minus deaths — is the largest source of population growth for the United States as a whole. Immigration from other countries accounts for the rest of the growth. In the counties on this list, however, most of the population growth is due to people moving in at a much faster rate than leaving, the study said.

In nearly every county on this list, 24/7 Wall St. said the vast majority of residents live in urban areas. According to United Nations projections, some 87.4 percent of Americans will live in an urban area in 2050 compared to about 82 percent today. Americans may choose to relocate to an urban area for more job opportunities, walkability, access to services, shopping, entertainment, and other amenities.

Urban areas also tend to offer a greater concentration job and career opportunities — and many counties on this list have a particularly strong labor market. The vast majority of these counties have a lower unemployment rate than the state as a whole. Here is a list of the cities adding the most jobs in every state.

To identify the fastest growing county in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the eight-year population estimate change from the U.S Census Bureau’s Annual Estimates of the Resident Population from April 2010-July 2018. Only counties with a base population (from April 2010) greater than 10,000 were considered.