PopulationTrends

=Population Trends=


 * What is this?**

The US Census Bureau reports a complete count of population every 10 years and estimates population between these decadal counts. We report the population in the Triangle counties from 1950-2008.


 * Why is this important?**

Population growth is a key driver of land cover change, with growing populations reflected in the transformation of fields and forests into businesses, homes, and roads.


 * What does this measure show?**

The Triangle’s population grew by 298% between 1950 and 2008, from 387,344 to 1,541,253 (Figure 1, Table 1). Most of the growth was in Wake County.

Figure 1. Triangle population by county, 1950-2008. Source: US Census Bureau.


 * || **Chatham** || **Durham** || **Johnston** || **Lee** || **Orange** || **Wake** || **Total** ||
 * **1950** || 25,392 || 101,639 || 65,906 || 23,522 || 34,435 || 136,450 || 387,344 ||
 * **1960** || 26,785 || 111,995 || 62,936 || 26,561 || 42,970 || 169,082 || 440,329 ||
 * **1970** || 29,554 || 132,681 || 61,737 || 30,467 || 57,505 || 228,453 || 540,599 ||
 * **1980** || 33,415 || 152,785 || 70,599 || 36,718 || 77,055 || 301,327 || 671,899 ||
 * **1990** || 38,759 || 181,835 || 81,306 || 41,374 || 93,851 || 423,380 || 860,505 ||
 * **2000** || 49,329 || 223,314 || 121,965 || 49,040 || 118,227 || 627,846 || 1,189,721 ||
 * **2008** || 63,077 || 262,715 || 163,428 || 59,091 || 126,532 || 866,410 || 1,541,253 ||
 * **Change (%)** || 148% || 158% || 148% || 151% || 267% || 535% || 298% ||
 * Table 1.** Triangle population by county, 1950-2008. Change is 1950-2008. Source: US Census Bureau