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Watch
out for Gwinnett,
North Dakota and Alaska!
By
Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JAN. 3, 2002 -- Here is a prediction of what will take place during
2002 in Gwinnett you can virtually take to the bank.
Gwinnett County will gain new residents enough to be larger in
population than three of our United States.
Said another way, you could put it: "Watch out, North Dakota!"
And any way you figure it, Gwinnett has already passed both Wyoming,
and in the last year, Vermont in population. (Gwinnett's also exceeds
the City of Atlanta population, at 416,474.)
And with just a little more growth, Gwinnett could surpass even
another state, Alaska, and have more people than four states!
However, after this growth in Gwinnett in 2002, it will take several
years for Gwinnett to have as many people as the 46th largest state,
South Dakota. So all of you in the Mount Rushmore state can rest
easy for a few years. Not only that, but South Dakota is actually
growing, so that will make it tougher.
But back to the numbers. Let's compare the smaller states of our
nation.
State…………….2000 Pop……..2001
Pop……..Rank
Wyoming………..493,782………494,423……….50th
Vermont………...608,827………613,090……….49th
North Dakota…...642,200………634,448……….48th
Alaska...………...626,932………634,892……….47th
South Dakota…....754,844………756,600…….…46th
Delaware………..783,600………796,165…….…45th
Montana………...902,195………904,433…….…44th
Now look at Gwinnett County. It had 588,448 people on April 1,
2000, and by April 1, 2001, had grown to an estimated 614,500 (ARC
estimate.) The growth since April 1, 2000 makes Gwinnett already
larger than Vermont.
Now some conjecture. Since 1992-93, Gwinnett has gained at least
20,000 people (except for 1995-96, when it gained 18,500). In the
last three years, it has averaged more than 25,000 new residents
each year.
And there is no sign that the growth rate is slowing. If Gwinnett
grows by another 25,000 people this year, it will have 639,552 people
on April 1, jumping ahead of North Dakota and Alaska, the 48th and
47th largest states.
So watch out, South Dakota. If Gwinnett continues to grow at its
current rate, we'll catch you by the year 2006!
Of course, you can never tell about population projections. Some
unrelated event in a distant land can impede Gwinnett's growth.
And then the projections themselves can be faulty.
For instance, back years ago, about 1990, the Atlanta Region Commission
predicted that Gwinnett would by the year 2000 have 499,500 people.
The real figure of 588,448 was actually under-predicted by 90,000
people. So watch out for any projections.
However, for the record, the most recent projection we've seen
from ARC shows that by the year 2010, Gwinnett will have 601,200
people. Gwinnett's already exceeded that, nine years ahead of time!
For now, realize: Gwinnett is bigger than both Wyoming and Vermont,
and gaining fast on North Dakota and Alaska. And watch out, South
Dakota!
FEEDBACK
1/3: Says potential race produces sharp contrast
Editor, the Forum:
I read with interest your item concerning David Shafer and Tommy
Hughes running for the State Senate. I could not tell from your
writing whether they are running in the same seat or different ones.
I know both men well. David Shafer was my appointee to the Gwinnett
County Library Board when I represented District 2 as a Gwinnett
County Commissioner. He did an excellent job on the Library Board
and in everything he has done. He is a man of integrity, He would
make an excellent State Senator and I hope he runs and is elected.
I also know Tommy Hughes. He served on the County Commission with
me. If he runs against David Shafer the contest would have a very
sharp contrast.
-- Doug Williamson, Lula
(Editor's Note: Mr. Williamson, formerly lived
in Norcross and was that area's county commissioner.)
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
About the factors that best contribute to good growth
"Things don't grow like we think they should. Stability is
the fertilizer of growth.....which is the destiny of prosperity."
-- Novelist Stephen Hunter, 2000.
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