ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – New population estimates released by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) on Wednesday show a total, 11-county metro population of 5.2 million.
The fastest rate of growth over the last year occurred in the City of Atlanta, which added 10,800 people. Cherokee County was next, adding 5,400 people, and then Henry County’s 4,750 people.
“I think Atlanta is full. I think it sucks with the transportation. I moved here 25 years ago and today, it’s a lot different. It is a lot more traffic,” Atlanta resident Leisa Rasboro said.
“First of all, we are not full. I know people like to say that, but really what it is, it’s a byproduct of having a vibrant economy,” Atlanta Regional Commission member Mike Carnathan said.
The 11-county region’s growth slowed a bit compared to 2022-23, the ARC said, when the region added 66,730 people. This reflects a slowdown in housing permit activity and a slight moderation in jobs growth. High housing prices also have acted as a brake on population growth.
“People from around the country are choosing metro Atlanta because of our great quality of life and our dynamic, diverse economy,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who also serves as ARC board chair. “Of course, our continued growth is not guaranteed. We must continue to invest in our region’s infrastructure to ensure a successful future.”
Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties, as well as the City of Atlanta and 74 other cities, comprise the 11-county metro region.
The region’s growth is being driven by the economy. Metro Atlanta’s job employment base has increased 6.4% since the pandemic began in early 2020. That’s the seventh highest in the nation among selected peer metro areas, trailing Austin, Dallas, Las Vegas, Orlando, Houston and Miami.
Each of metro Atlanta’s 11 counties saw population increases in the past year. Fulton County, including Atlanta, added 17,400 residents, the largest numeric increase in the region, followed by Gwinnett (14,900); Cobb (6,700); and Cherokee (5,400). Gwinnett County’s population topped 1 million for the first time and now totals 1,012,112.
Douglas County showed a sizable year-over-year increase, growing at a rate of 1.6%, compared to 0.9% in 2022-23. Douglas added 2,400 residents in the past year and now has a population of 153,000.
City leaders with the Atlanta Regional Commission call it a good, steady growth, which has prompted them to invest $168 billion in transportation and infrastructure needs over the next 25 years.
“It looks at expansion on our roadways, it looks at transit expansion, but more than 60 percent of our total investment is going to be maintaining what we have,” Carnathan said.
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