By Kelly Young
news@jacksonvilleprogress.com
Slowly but steadily, Cherokee County is growing — in some cases, very slowly. U.S. Census Bureau numbers released Thursday show that not only has the county gained nearly 300 people in the past year, but each of Cherokee County’s eight incorporated towns grew as well.
The bureau estimates that the population of Cherokee County increased from 48,217 to 48,513 — a change of 296 people — from July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006.
Jacksonville gained 66 people, bringing its population to 14,402. That increase is up compared to last year, when only 61 individuals joined the community, but down from both 2003 and 2004, when 282 and 198 people respectively, moved to Jacksonville.
Rusk saw an increase of 22 people, after losing five citizens the year before, and 20 the year before that.
The cities of Alto and Cuney are each estimated to have gained one resident in the past year – Alto climbing to 1,150 and Cuney reaching 149. Cuney has gained only three individuals in the past five years.
New Summerfield grew by seven people in the last year, to 1,038. Wells increased to 801, thanks to the addition of five new people. Gallatin’s population reached 396, up three from last year. Reklaw gained four people, to 338, after staying at 334 the previous two years.
The year’s biggest winner turned out to be out-of-towners, who made up nearly two-thirds of the county’s new additions. An estimated 187 people moved to an area of Cherokee County other than the eight incorporated towns. Nearly 52-percent of Cherokee County now lives outside of city limits.
Using their growth rates over the last five years, Cherokee County should reach 50,000 citizens in 2011, and Jacksonville should hit 15,000 in 2013.
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