Here’s how York, Lancaster rank among country’s high growth counties. Hint: it’s high
If social distancing seems tough in York and Lancaster counties, there’s a reason. There are lots more people in York and Lancaster counties.
The U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday released new population estimates for states, counties and large metro areas. Those figures show the tri-county area of York, Lancaster and Chester combine for more than 411,000 residents. Both York and Lancaster rank among the fastest growing counties in the country.
The new data estimates populations as of July 1, 2019. It also comes as the bureau conducts its official, decennial census that will determine federal voting district distribution along with federal funding decisions from roads to schools to infrastructure.
Here are five takeaways from the data release:
▪ Lancaster and York counties placed in the top 100 counties in the nation for single-year growth. Lancaster County came in at No. 39, with a 3.1% increase and an estimated 2,977 more people in 2019 than 2018. York County came in at No. 82. York County increased 2.6% in a year, or an estimated 7,197 people.
Other Carolina counties on the single-year list include Jasper (No. 38; 3.2%), Berkeley (No. 48; 3%) and Horry (No. 62; 2.9%) in South Carolina and Brunswick (No. 7; 4.3%), Johnston (No. 33; 3.3%), Franklin (No. 46; 3%), Currituck (No. 72; 2.8%) and Lincoln (No. 100; 2.4%) in North Carolina.
▪ Growth since the last federal census in 2010 also puts York and Lancaster among the fastest growing counties nationwide. Lancaster County is No. 32. It’s population is up an estimated 27.9%. York County is No. 49. It’s population increased an estimated 24.3%. Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, which borders both York and Lancaster, was No. 80 on the list.
Other counties in the top 100 include Horry (No. 24), Berkeley (No. 34), Jasper (No. 73) and Dorchester (No. 93) in South Carolina and Brunswick (No. 19), Johnston (No. 51), Wake (No. 54), Cabarrus (No. 71), Pender (No. 79) and Union (No. 100) in North Carolina.
▪ Chester County hasn’t seen the same growth as York and Lancaster. Estimates put Chester County population change down .2% in a year, down 2.8% since 2010.
▪ South Carolina has an estimated 5.15 million people. The population is up 1.3% in a year and 11.3 percent since 2010. At an estimated 280,979 people York County ranks No. 7 in the state. Lancaster County has an estimated 98,012 residents, good for No. 16. Chester County is No. 29 at 32,244 people.
▪ The Charlotte metro region has has more than 2.6 million people, up 18% and almost 393,000 people since 2010. The metro has almost 44,000 more people — up 2% — in a year.
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 9:13 AM.
