Census: Montgomery Population More Than Triples Since 2000

The village of Montgomery has grown by more than 13,000 people in the last 10 years, according to figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Ten years ago Montgomery was home to 5,471 people. But the population of the village has more than tripled since the 2000 census, and currently stands at 18,438, according to the bureau.

The new figures, collected during last year’s census, detail the population as of April 1, 2010. They show a growth in the village of 237 percent in the last decade.

The majority of that growth is happening west of Orchard Road, in both Kane and Kendall counties, according to Village Manager Anne Marie Gaura, although there has been some growth in new subdivisions on the east side as well.

Gaura and the village staff have been keeping a close watch on Montgomery’s population explosion, and have commissioned a special census every two years since 2000. Those studies have shown steady growth, Gaura said—the 2006 special census put the village population at 14,407, and two years later, the number rose to 17,062.

And even though the 2010 numbers did not increase at the same rate, Gaura said she is happy with the results of the census.

The studies conducted in 2004, 2006 and 2008 were not full censuses, but were targeted toward high-growth areas, she said, and Gaura had been worried that the high number of foreclosures and vacant homes in the village might mean the overall population had gone down.

In fact, Gaura said, the number of vacant homes in the village has decreased since the 2010 census was taken. Census figures show the village with 328 empty houses (out of 6,326 homes total), but Gaura said the most current figures put that number closer to 300.

The village also issued 65 building permits in 2010, Gaura said, which shows that developers are still building homes, and people are still moving into them.

Why do Montgomery leaders care so much about population figures?

One of the village’s primary sources of income is state-shared sales tax, and the amount that comes Montgomery’s way is determined by population. More people means more money, Gaura said, which is important in a down economy.

Additionally, should the village’s growth continue at a similar rate, it could be a home rule community by the time the 2020 census rolls around. Municipalities with more than 25,000 residents are considered home rule communities, and granted more powers, such as the ability to levy additional taxes.

The 2010 census figures also show a growing diversity in Montgomery. In 2000, 89 percent of the population (4,887 people) identified themselves as white, while 13 percent identified themselves as Hispanic, and only 3 percent as black.

In 2010, the white population has dropped to 75 percent (although it has risen to 13,888 people), with 26.7 percent identifying themselves as Hispanic, and 8 percent as black.

Gaura said she is not surprised by these numbers: “They continue to show the growth of the community, and how the community has changed with that growth.”

Montgomery is not the only community on the rise. Its northern neighbor, Aurora, held on to its status as the second-largest city in the state, up 38 percent to 197,899. Oswego more than doubled its population over the last decade and stands at 30,355 people.

Kendall County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, more than doubled its population over the last 10 years. Kane County grew by 27 percent, and is listed as the fifth most populous county in the state. Kendall has 114,736 residents, and Kane has 515,269.

Figures released Tuesday for Montgomery and the rest of Illinois are available here.

4,887

89.3%

13,888

75%

Hispanic or Latino

(includes those who identify

themselves as both white and

Hispanic)

741

13.5%

4,923

26.7%

165

3.0%

1,539

8.3%

44

0.8%

588

3.2%

23

0.4%

69

0.4%

2

0.0%

6

0.0%

267

4.9%

1,727

9.4%