Peggy Vlerebome, Madison Courier Staff Writer
Madison’s population increased 2.75 percent between the 2000 census and last July 1, while Hanover’s dropped 2.1 percent, according to estimates the U.S. Census Bureau issued Thursday.
The Census Bureau estimate shows Madison’s population was 12,335 as of July 1, 2004, an increase of 331 since the 2000 census counted 12,004. Hanover’s population a year ago was 3,725, according to the Census Bureau. That’s 87 fewer than the final number for the 2000 census, which was increased 973 from the original figure after the bureau admitted it had goofed.
Elsewhere in Jefferson County, the census bureau showed Brooksburg with one less person last year than the 74 in the 2000 census and Dupont with 391, an increase of one.
In Switzerland County, the Census Bureau said there were 1,654 residents in Vevay a year ago, a decrease of 81, or 4.6 percent, from the 2000 census.
The census figures are net numbers after births, deaths, move-ins and move-outs are accounted for.
David Terrell, executive director of the Madison-Jefferson County Economic Development Corp., said that although the numbers don’t show great growth, “at least we’re showing some activity.” More telling than the total numbers, he said, would be the distribution of the increase — whether it reflects senior citizens, young adults and the like.
The figures released yesterday aren’t broken down into age, racial or income groups.
Also, the numbers are for cities and towns only, and not for the areas outside cities and towns. In Jefferson County, about two-thirds of the population lived in unincorporated areas outside cities and towns when the 2000 census was taken, so any growth or loss there is not reflected in the new numbers.
Across Indiana, the new report from the Census Bureau shows that suburbs are fueling the state’s population growth.
Many of the factory towns that have long been among Indiana’s largest cities continue to lose residents as suburban communities — especially near Indianapolis — are booming, the new population estimates show.
The figures released Thursday found that Evansville had one of the nation’s largest percentage drops in population among cities with at least 100,000 people, while Carmel became the first suburb to crack the list of the state’s 10 largest cities.
Patrick Barkey, director of economic and policy studies at Ball State University, called the shift away from older metropolitan areas “fringe growth” that’s fueled by rising incomes.
“They want more land,” he said. “They want bigger houses. They want a place to park three or four cars.”
The new estimates account for changes in municipal boundaries from the 2000 census.
The Indianapolis suburb of Carmel, with 58,198 residents, has grown more than 14 percent since 2000. Fishers — the state’s 13th largest community, with 54,330 residents — has grown nearly 43 percent in the same period.
“People have realized that they like the atmosphere, education level and quality of life in Carmel and prefer to work, live and raise their families in this type of community,” Carmel Mayor James C. Brainard said in a statement.
Evansville’s population declined by nearly 4 percent — the eighth largest decrease in the nation among the country’s biggest cities.
The city’s population declined to 117,156 in 2004 from 121,582 in 2000. But Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel said the numbers may be misleading.
“Although there may be fewer people living in the city, those people aren’t necessarily leaving Vanderburgh County or the area,” he said. “While we’ve seen population shifts where people live, the boundaries in the city will expand to take in that growth.”
Ed Durkee, director of leadership programs with the Indiana Humanities Council, said the new census data paint a picture of a way of life that’s going away.
“That’s always true in history,” he said. “We used to have cowboys and now we have truck drivers.”
The central Indiana city of Anderson lost about 3 percent of its population in the past four years. That decrease knocked the city out of the running as one of the state’s 10 largest communities.
Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith said he wasn’t surprised about the population shift. But, he said, don’t count his city out.
“It’s a tough little community,” he said. “It’s very tenacious.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Copyright 2005, The Madison Courier