January 27, 2010 — The rate of population growth in Virginia is increasing again for the first time since the beginning of the recession, according to the latest estimates from the Demographics and Workforce Group of the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.
The Cooper Center's population estimates are the official figures for the commonwealth of Virginia. The estimates are based on changes since 2000 in the housing stock, school enrollment, births, exemptions claimed on state income tax returns and drivers' licenses. They are used by state and local government agencies in revenue sharing, funding allocations, and planning and budgeting.
While economic conditions remain uncertain, the population growth rate has recovered from less than 1 percent in 2006-07 and 2007-08 to 1.12 percent in 2008-09, said U.Va. demographer Mike Spar, who prepared the annual population estimates. While the state's overall growth rate has not yet returned to previous levels – it was 1.29 percent in 2003-04 – the trend is toward higher rates of growth after the mid-decade slowdown, he said.
Virginia's population has grown by more than 800,000 since the 2000 census – a growth rate of 11.4 percent over nine years. The provisional state population estimate is 7,882,590, which represents an increase of more than 87,000 since 2008.
Population growth in Virginia occurs through a balance of natural increase (more births than deaths) and net in-migration (more people moving in to Virginia than moving out), he explained. As recently as 2003-04, these two factors contributed in almost equal measure to state population increases; however, the balance between the two has tipped in recent years toward a greater contribution by natural increase.
"It is likely that economic conditions led to a reduction in migration to Virginia," Spar said. "Mobility is affected by a stagnant housing market and limited job prospects, conditions characterizing most of the nation in the past several years."
Virginia Growth Components
Virginia's metropolitan areas account for 93.5 percent of the population growth since 2000; as a result, by July 2009, more than 85.7 percent of Virginians lived in one of the state's metropolitan areas. Rural and small-town Virginia represents a diminishing share of the state's population.
While some urban localities (such as Fairfax, Chesterfield and Chesapeake) have large increases in population, they may not register as among those with the fastest rate of growth, due to the size of their population.
The tables below show the state's 10 largest and smallest localities in 2009, and, since the last census in 2000, localities with the fastest growth rates, and those that have gained the most population.
Largest Localities in 2009
Smallest Localities in 2009
Fastest-Growing Localities Since 2000
Largest Numerical Increases Since 2000
"Localities are faced with addressing the needs of their population, large or small. Some face rather dramatic changes in population size from year to year; some have gains, some have losses. All of these changes affect the tax base, demand for services and context for planning," Spar said.
Detailed estimates for 2009 are available here.
The Cooper Center's population estimates are the official figures for the commonwealth of Virginia. The estimates are based on changes since 2000 in the housing stock, school enrollment, births, exemptions claimed on state income tax returns and drivers' licenses. They are used by state and local government agencies in revenue sharing, funding allocations, and planning and budgeting.
While economic conditions remain uncertain, the population growth rate has recovered from less than 1 percent in 2006-07 and 2007-08 to 1.12 percent in 2008-09, said U.Va. demographer Mike Spar, who prepared the annual population estimates. While the state's overall growth rate has not yet returned to previous levels – it was 1.29 percent in 2003-04 – the trend is toward higher rates of growth after the mid-decade slowdown, he said.
Virginia's population has grown by more than 800,000 since the 2000 census – a growth rate of 11.4 percent over nine years. The provisional state population estimate is 7,882,590, which represents an increase of more than 87,000 since 2008.
Population growth in Virginia occurs through a balance of natural increase (more births than deaths) and net in-migration (more people moving in to Virginia than moving out), he explained. As recently as 2003-04, these two factors contributed in almost equal measure to state population increases; however, the balance between the two has tipped in recent years toward a greater contribution by natural increase.
"It is likely that economic conditions led to a reduction in migration to Virginia," Spar said. "Mobility is affected by a stagnant housing market and limited job prospects, conditions characterizing most of the nation in the past several years."
Period (July to July) | Population Change (1,000s) | Net Migration (1,000s) | Natural Increase (1,000s) | Growth Rate (Percent) |
2008-09 | 87.2 | 38.9 | 48.3 | 1.12 |
2007-08 | 75.7 | 26.5 | 49.2 | 0.98 |
2006-07 | 72.8 |
23.0 |
49.8 |
0.95 |
2005-06 |
83.1 |
35.1 |
48.0 |
1.10 |
2004-05 |
95.0 |
47.8 |
47.2 |
1.27 |
2003-04 |
95.2 |
50.0 |
45.2 |
1.29 |
2002-03 |
90.2 |
47.6 |
42.6 |
1.24 |
2001-02 |
92.2 |
49.7 |
42.5 |
1.28 |
2000-01 |
86.8 |
44.0 |
42.8 |
1.22 |
Virginia's metropolitan areas account for 93.5 percent of the population growth since 2000; as a result, by July 2009, more than 85.7 percent of Virginians lived in one of the state's metropolitan areas. Rural and small-town Virginia represents a diminishing share of the state's population.
While some urban localities (such as Fairfax, Chesterfield and Chesapeake) have large increases in population, they may not register as among those with the fastest rate of growth, due to the size of their population.
The tables below show the state's 10 largest and smallest localities in 2009, and, since the last census in 2000, localities with the fastest growth rates, and those that have gained the most population.
Fairfax County | 1,036,473 |
Virginia Beach City | 434,412 |
Prince William County | 386,934 |
Chesterfield County | 307,594 |
Loudoun County | 298,113 |
Henrico County | 296,490 |
Norfolk City | 237,764 |
Chesapeake City | 219,960 |
Arlington County | 212,038 |
Richmond City | 198,102 |
Galax City | 6,798 |
King and Queen County | 6,675 |
Buena Vista City | 6,553 |
Bedford City | 6,083 |
Covington City | 5,957 |
Emporia City | 5,861 |
Craig County | 5,211 |
Bath County | 4,745 |
Norton City | 4,054 |
Highland County | 2,273 |
Loudoun County | 75.8% |
King George County | 42.2 |
Culpeper County | 39.9 |
Prince William County | 37.8 |
Manassas Park City | 36.3 |
Stafford County | 36.2 |
Spotsylvania County | 34.8 |
Fluvanna County | 32.9 |
New Kent County | 32.6 |
James City County | 32.4 |
Loudoun County | 128,514 |
Prince William County | 106,121 |
Fairfax County | 66,724 |
Chesterfield County | 47,691 |
Henrico County | 34,190 |
Stafford County | 33,446 |
Spotsylvania County | 31,414 |
Arlington County | 22,585 |
Chesapeake City | 20,776 |
Suffolk City | 19,329 |
"Localities are faced with addressing the needs of their population, large or small. Some face rather dramatic changes in population size from year to year; some have gains, some have losses. All of these changes affect the tax base, demand for services and context for planning," Spar said.
Detailed estimates for 2009 are available here.
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January 27, 2010
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