Census: Loudoun Ranks No. 5 in Growth

By LoudounExtra.com staff

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Loudoun County is the fifth fastest-growing county in the country so far this decade, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released this morning.

As of July 1, 2007, Loudoun's population was estimated at 278,797, which is a 64 percent increase over the 169,599 people who called Loudoun home in 2000.

The only counties with a greater percentage of growth this decade are Kendall County, Ill., Flagler County, Fla., Rockwall County, Texas, and Pinal County, Ariz. Prince William County ranked No. 96 with a 28 percent increase in population.

Census bureau figures show that without newcomers after 2000, Loudoun's population would have grown by 27,888, instead of 109,198. That's because during that time, the county had 33,543 births and 5,655 deaths.

Migration into Loudoun from elsewhere in the country accounted for 75,636 additional people, while residents moving from other countries added 6,074.

Loudoun's population increased 5 percent from July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2007, making it the fastest-growing county in Virginia – both in percentage and numbers. While Loudoun gained nearly 13,000 people over the past year, much-larger Fairfax County brought in only 6,300 people – an increase of 0.6 percent.

Loudoun accounted for about 18 percent of Virginia's population growth in the year prior to July 1, 2007.

According to the numbers released today, Fairfax County ranked as the 37th largest county in the country with an estimated population of 1,010,214.

The Washington area's inner counties such as Arlington, Fairfax and Montgomery have been losing residents to the outer suburbs and other parts of the country.

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