Agenda - 06-04-1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2., V 2.8 POPULATION DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS *-- Population is one of the most fundamental factors affecting the pattern t-- of development throughout the County. Population not only refers to the absolute numbers of people, but also to their composition and distribution. F., Change in the local population picture has innedlate significance for efforts aimed at determining the future of the County. An examination of population trends will illustrate the direction and tagnitude of change underway in Orange County. Past and Present Trends V- .:, In recent years North Carolina, like other southern region states, has k experienced a reversal of historic long term patterns of out-migration i- to one of in-migration. Orange County is currently experiencing the K locational benefits of this migration pattern. The County is located in the rapidly expanding area of North Carolina known as the Piedmont Crescent. More significantly, Orange County is located in proximity to a center of great economic attraction, the Research Triangle Park. ii f-. Orange County has experienced a dramatic increase in population during recent years. between 1960 and 1980 the County's population a/most doubled in size from 42,970 persons in 1960 to 77,055 persons in 1980. The addition of 34,085 persons reflects the relative locational advantages and attrac- tiveness of Orange County in the development of the Region. Although the absolute numbers are important, an examination of the distri- bution of the growth in population overtime will illustrate the sigrificance of this growth for the County. The annual growth rate for Orange County has increased since 1950. During the 1950 - 1960 period the annual population growth rate was 2.4%, while in the decade 1960-1970 the annual growth rate was 3.4%. The 1.980 Census figures indicate that the growth rate for the County has apparently stabilized at 3.4% during the 1970-1980 decade. This growth rate is significantly higher than the growth rates experienced in the Raleigh-Durham SMSA as a whole, in Region J, in North Carolina and in the nation during the same period ('rable 2.50 ). ' Within Orange County the bulk of the population increase during recent f , decades has occurred in Chapel Hill Township. Chapel Hill Township's population increased by 11,716 persons, contributing 60% of the total popu- lation increase in the County during the period 1970-1980. As shown in Table 2.51. , although Chapel Hill Township accounted for the greatest pro- portion of the total growth, the growth rate experienced in the Township was greater than only Little River and Cedar Grove Townships, The town- ship experiencing the greatest rate of growth is Eno Township, whose 1980 population accounts for only 6% of the total County population. Historically, the distribution of population throughout the County has been characterized by growing towns and declining rural populations. A signi- ficant proportion of the population increase in the County can be accounted for in the municipal areas, particularly the Towns of Chapel Hill and