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1b <br /> A <br /> q y .� 1. jj;� Ior <br /> e � . • ' . <br /> Environmental Quality Indicator : <br /> ter ' . ; <br /> is I <br /> Why indicator Population has a major impact on all other indicators . The location <br /> was Selected and activities of people affect every aspect of the natural environment <br /> including the air, water, wildlife habitat, and soil structure and <br /> productivity. Population at any given time reflects the fertility and <br /> mortality of the native population plus people who have come to the <br /> area for various reasons ( such as job opportunities and quality of life ) . <br /> As population grows , more local natural and public resources and <br /> services are needed to accommodate the entire population . <br /> How indicator Wake County Planning estimates county population annually based <br /> was measured on real and personal property information compiled from the Wake <br /> County Assessor, a telephone survey of group quarters , and household <br /> characteristics from the 1990 Census . The estimates include people <br /> living in all types of houses , manufactured homes , apartments , <br /> dormitories , long term care facilities and group homes . <br /> i <br /> The trend ' Wake County is home to the North Carolina state government , <br /> in Wake County j 12 municipalities and part of the Research Triangle Park . The county, <br /> which has one of the lowest unemployment rates in North Carolina and <br /> ! the country, continues to grow and attract people from other counties , <br /> i <br /> ? regions , and countries . <br /> i <br /> In July 1996 Wake County ' s population was estimated at 540 , 787 . <br /> The number of residents grew by 6 percent since July 1995 which <br /> translates to an increase of 37 people per square mile in just one year. <br /> t <br /> In terms of growth rates , the fastest growing communities were Holly <br /> Springs and Rolesville , which each increased in population by more <br /> I than 30 percent between 1995 and 1996 . The population of Apex , Cary <br /> j and Fuquay Varina grew by more than 10 percent each . Municipalities <br /> j with the smallest growth rate , Raleigh and Garner, increased at over <br /> 2 percent each . Even at this rate , Raleigh added 7 , 379 citizens in one <br /> year. Population growth in the unincorporated areas matched the <br /> County ' s overall rate of about 6 percent . <br /> The Wake County Wake County has developed a Land Use Plan which encourages <br /> growth in and around the municipalities and away from water supply <br /> Government response <br /> watersheds and other sensitive natural resources . <br /> 1 <br />