The U.S. Census Bureau recently published a report on Maryland population growth. Howard County had the fastest population growth between July 1, 2013 and July 1, 2014 with 1.4 percent (population estimate in 2013: 304,934; population estimate in 2014: 309,284), with Charles County following as a close second with 1.2 percent. Montgomery County followed in third with 1 percent growth and Frederick County with 0.9 percent growth.
According the the Southern Maryland Newspapers Online, Charles County attributes its growth to the change in the quality of life in the county.
Data collected from the 2010 census reported 146,551 residents in April 2010, indicating the county added about 8,196 more people to its population between that time and July 2014.
The recent growth rate and population increase are part of an ongoing trend county government officials have seen in the past decade, said Marcia Keeth, acting director of the Charles County Department of Economic Development.
Keeth said the latest numbers are a result of the county’s quality of life.
Although the county’s growth briefly slowed during the economic downturn in 2007, Keeth said, Charles County has grown from year to year because of an influx of young professional families in the county over the past 10 years.
Management-level professionals seek out Charles County, she said, for its schools and affordability, and this well-educated workforce earning above-average salaries has attracted businesses.
Visit SoMdNews online to read the whole article on Charles County’s growth.
