ARC report: Population grows as economic recovery continues

By Collin Kelley

According to the latest Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) population estimates, the 10-county Atlanta region added some 52,700 people between April 1, 2013 and April 1, 2014. While not as robust as growth during the boom years of the 1990s and early 2000s, this growth is greater than last year’s, and puts the region’s total population at 4,272,300, a number that is larger than the populations of 24 states.

“The Atlanta region’s job growth is on the rise,” said Mike Alexander, manager of ARC’s Research & Analytics Division. “Because the Atlanta region is an attractive place for employers and employees, we tend to attract people from all over the country, creating more in-migration than out-migration.”

Gwinnett County, long a growth leader in the region, grew the fastest at a rate of 1.9 percent. Gwinnett added a total of 11,900 new residents. Fulton County, the largest in metro Atlanta, added the most, with 12,700 new residents, a growth rate of 1.3 percent.

Gwinnett and Fulton’s population increase was followed by Cobb (9,600) and DeKalb (6,300) counties.

All 10 counties experienced growth during the year. Cherokee County added 4,200, Henry County 3,200, Douglas County 1,300, Fayette County 1,300, Rockdale County 1,200 and Clayton County 1,000. The City of Atlanta’s growth trend also continued, with the city adding 4,100 people, driven in large part by new multi-family developments and an influx of young professionals.