Someone turned off the people faucet: Metro Atlanta population growth slows to trickle unseen since the 1950s
For anyone who’s grown up in metro Atlanta during these last four boom-boom decades, the monthly report from the Atlanta Regional Commission is simply astounding:
[The] ARC estimated that the 10-county Atlanta region added 31,500 new residents between April 1, 2009, and April 1, 2010. This growth is dramatically slower than historical levels, as the national recession and the housing slowdown continue to take their toll.
Since the recession began more than two years ago, the 10-county region has added approximately 56,000 people, which is the slowest growth period in the region since the 1950s.
The Atlanta region’s slowdown is directly attributable to the national economy. During weak economic periods, people don’t move as much for several reasons. Job opportunities are slim, meaning people don’t move to take new jobs. And, with the housing market in such disarray, it is hard to sell a house, which tends to keep people stationary….
Overall, however, this decade has been characterized by fast growth. The Atlanta region has averaged more than 72,000 new residents each year.
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58 comments Add your comment
Taxes to High
August 27th, 2010
10:15 am
It’s pretty simple. Metro Atlanta continues to grow, the city of Atlanta’s growth has slowed because of the lack of employment opportunities. We see example after example in the suburbs where employers are relocating from other cities and State’s. The State of Georgia continues to grow… all but the City of Atlanta.
So after decades of incompetent and at times corrupt government and billions spent on infrastructure only to have to be spent again because it was done wrong the first, second and…. times. It is no wonder that the City taxes business at multiples times our neighbors and the jobs do not come to the City.
You can thank decades of incompetent and corrupt management. Mayor Reid has a tough job in turning this ship around but appears to be up for it. However, the benefits will not be seen for many years to come.
n
August 27th, 2010
12:08 pm
@inmo
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell” – Ed Abbey
BRAVO! I live in New Jersey as a child. It is now a wasteland because of cancer-like, rampaging, corruption-fueled growth. Where there were fields and cows in my childhood, there are mini-malls and endless vistas of little boxes made of ticky-tacky that all look the same. Our deep thinkers here in Georgia should visit NJ, California, Texas and see the results of their metastatic growth politicies. I want to see this gorgeous, glorious state preserved for the generations to come. Not some God-forsaken asphalt encrusted wasteland.
Mickey
August 27th, 2010
1:05 pm
I blame all the crackers OTP.
max
August 27th, 2010
1:13 pm
Us vs Us. you live on my street? I love where I live in Decatur- I know my neighbors, great community involvement when stuff needs to get done in the area, and events happening almost every weekend. Couldn’t ask for a better area in Atlanta to live.
No Teabagging
August 27th, 2010
4:36 pm
Another reason NOT to redevelop the GM plant in Doraville into another Atlantic Station. Don’t build it, They aren’t coming.
Doris M
August 28th, 2010
12:39 pm
Atlanta’s growth needs to slow down and maybe even stop. There are too many people in the area. I cannot drive out of my subdivision for traffic. Too much downtown traffic, highways adding lanes; traffic increasing.
The quality of life is decreasing (along with employment) and I think people outside of Atlanta have figured that out so they are staying away. Thank God for small favors.
atler8
August 31st, 2010
4:10 pm
Re: the “Taxes to High” post of August 27th.
Boy have you got it all wrong! In your anti-City-of-Atlanta induced fog, you are spouting fairy tales that are blatantly wrong!
A check of the estimates reveals that ALL of metro Atlanta has seen a sharp falloff in growth in the last two years, not just in the city.
The growth in Cobb, Dekalb & Gwinnett has shrunk down to a minimal level as compared to recent years & decades.
The figures reveal that the fastest growing county in metro Atlanta is now Fulton County but even it’s growth has slowed down markedly.
You would do well to check out the population estimates which show that since the census count in 2000, the City of Atlanta has boomed & grown at a faster percentage rate than the overall rate for the entire metro area.
Your beatup of Atlanta that you posted here is a tired & innacurate, dead old horse that suburbanites use to hang on the city before it began to revive & grow in the 1990’s.
TAMPADNINC
September 21st, 2010
1:15 am
It’s because all of the New Orleanians are moving back and they are taking some Atlanta folks with them back to New Orleans, Houston population is growing as well because the poor economy did not affect that city, in fact Houston is adding jobs on a consistent basis, no reason to stay in a Job declining place with growing housing cost if you can get paid more in Houston and pay less to live there.
Atlanta was bound to fall on it’s face eventually, it was a balloon ready to burst at any time, it’s going to end up like Detroit soon.