Raleigh Population Cracks U.S. Top 50

Raleigh, N.C. — Thousands of new residents in recent months have pushed Raleigh into the Top 50 cities nationwide in terms of population, city officials said Friday.

The Planning Department's Growth Management Division estimated Raleigh's population as of July 1 reached 367,995 people, a 4 percent increase from the estimated 353,600 city residents a year ago.

Estimates are based on the number of dwellings, the average number of people per dwelling, and the dwelling occupancy/vacancy averages.

The growth pushed Raleigh past Wichita, Kan., to become the 50th-largest city in the country.

Raleigh is now the ninth-largest city in the South behind Jacksonville, Fla.; Memphis, Tenn.; Charlotte; Louisville, Ky.; Nashville, Tenn; Atlanta; Virginia Beach, Va.; and Miami.

“Raleigh continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States,” Raleigh Planning Director Mitchell Silver said in a statement. "If our growth rate continues, we project that Raleigh will pass Arlington, Texas, Minneapolis and Colorado Springs, Colo., next year.”

In 2006, Raleigh passed Tampa, Fla., Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and St. Louis in population, Silver said.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates lag one year behind local estimates.

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Here are one of the reasons for this population surge:

For every two people who move to Wake County, another arrives as the ultimate newcomer -- a newborn.

In all, nearly 13,000 babies were born last year to Wake residents -- an average of about 35 a day. No other Triangle county averages more than a dozen births daily.

It's not uncommon for either WakeMed Raleigh Campus or Rex Hospital to see the arrival of more than 20 babies in a day -- enough from one maternity ward to fill a future kindergarten class.

Between 2001 and 2006, births to Hispanic Wake residents soared 72 percent -- from 1,396 to 2,400 -- while all births rose 20 percent. Babies to Hispanic parents accounted for about 19 percent of births to all Wake residents in 2006.

source: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/653258.html

Nancy
July 29, 2007 9:02 a.m.

Southwestraleigh - i've lived here all of my life and so has my whole family. I've never once seen a rope in a tree. My grandmother was Cherokee and never lived on a reservation. There isn't a whole lot of southern hospitality unless you get to know people. I can't even count the times in the grocery that I have walked in front of someone and said excuse me and they just stand there and don't even aknowledge that I exist. And rude cashiers are just a icing on the cake. But i'm told by my "yankee" father in law that it's the same way up north. Southern Hospitality is just a stereotype anyway.

North Carolina Native
July 29, 2007 8:21 a.m.

My bad! I forgot pro basketball, but with the ACC?????

weasleyes
July 28, 2007 9:43 p.m.

Lolly and GoPanthers (I love that name): Amen! I am NC born and bred, but I welcome all of these people. With growth comes things like the magnificent RBC, pro football, pro hockey, and many other wonderful things. Why can't we just all love each other as people? Now, concerning the civic center, who wants to hold a convention in Raleigh?

weasleyes
July 28, 2007 9:42 p.m.

For those concerned with the growth issues, please read my blog:

http://www.wral.com/golo/blogpost/1646154/

Nancy
July 28, 2007 9:40 p.m.