By DAVE SCHULTZ, Huntington Herald-Press Associate Editor
Huntington County's population is up by an estimated 24 people since the 2000 census. And that's the good news.
Every municipality in the county, but one, has lost population since 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau said in its annual population estimates. Those estimates are released at the end of June each year to reflect July 1 of the previous year.
Comparing the 2004 estimate with the official 2000 census numbers, Huntington has lost 410 people (2.34 percent of its population) in four years. Even Roanoke, considered to be the fastest-growing area of Huntington County, lost 25 people, 1.67 percent of its population.
Only Markle went up in population -- by one person, from 1,102 in 2000 to 1,103 in 2004.
The county's population went from 38,100 to 38,124 -- 24 people, a 0.06 percent increase.
Indiana's population increased by 2.39 percent, statewide, during the same period.
Comparing the county's growth and the municipalities' decline, the numbers show 482 more people living in unincorporated areas of the county than there were in 2000.
The increases in those unincorporated areas would seem to back up an area-wide approach to planning, whether it is through extra-territorial jurisdiction or an area plan commission.
"If you just look at the subdivisions that are coming in, they are in and around an existing municipality," said Mike Sapp, executive director of the Huntington Countywide Department of Community Development. "We're still getting signs of growth in several areas."
Of the five counties that adjoin Huntington County, three gained population and two lost population according to the Census Bureau's estimates.
Allen County, Indiana's third most populous county, saw an increase of 9,427 people, 2.83 percent. Whitley County gained 1,204 people, a 3.92 percent increase, and Wells County gained 342 people, a 1.24 percent increase.
Wabash County lost 2.32 percent of its population and Grant County lost 2.37 percent of its population.