Regional and County Population Change in

A Summary of Trends from April 1, 2010 through July 1, 2016

North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management December 2017

Introduction The following document summarizes population trends for North Carolina using the certified county population estimates produced by the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) released in September of 2017. These certified population estimates are as of July 1, 2016.1 Additional population tables that include statistics for all 100 counties can be obtained from https://www.osbm.nc.gov/demog/county‐estimates.2

Highlights:  North Carolina grew by 620,254 people between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2016, a 6.5% increase;  Three of every four people added in this period were living in central North Carolina3;  95% of all growth occurred within metropolitan counties4;  Among regional planning areas, only the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments experienced population decline;  The fastest growing metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) since April 1, 2010 were the North Carolina portion of the Myrtle Beach‐Conway‐North Myrtle Beach MSA, the Raleigh MSA, the North Carolina portion of the Charlotte‐Concord‐Gastonia MSA, and the Wilmington MSA.  Only the Rocky Mount MSA experienced population decline since the last census, losing 4,460 people (a 2.9% decline);  The Charlotte‐Concord‐Gastonia MSA remains the largest metropolitan area in the state (at 2.1 million people);  Mecklenburg (1.1 million) and Wake (1.0 million) Counties remain the largest counties in the state. These two counties each added over 125,000 between 2010 and 2016;  Two‐thirds of North Carolina counties added population between 2010 and 2016;  Brunswick County was the fastest growing county in the state, adding 20,319 people – a 18.9% increase;  Mecklenburg, Wake and Brunswick Counties experienced the largest net migration during this period, adding 81,018, 77,315, and 21,474 net migrants, respectively;  31 counties grew as a result of both natural increase (more births than deaths) and net in‐migration (more people moving into than leaving a county); and  20 counties lost population as a result of both natural decrease (more deaths than births) and net out‐migration (more people leaving a county than moving in).

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Population Change by North Carolina continues to experience population growth, but population growth is not distributed equally throughout the state. The largest population increases occurred in central North Carolina and within metropolitan counties. Between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2016, North Carolina added 620,254 people, an increase of 6.5% increase. The largest numeric and percentage increase occurred within the central portion of North Carolina (see Table 1 and Figure 1), where three of every four people added to North Carolina during this period were living. The slowest growth occurred within , which added 46,653 people. Ninety‐five percent of population growth during this period occurred within metropolitan counties. Over a half million people were added to metropolitan counties between 2010 and 2016. By July 1, 2016, there were 7.9 million people living in metropolitan counties in North Carolina – up from 7.3 million in 2010. At the same time, the population in non‐metropolitan counties grew by just 28,236 or 1.3 percent. By 2016, there were 2.2 million people living in non‐metropolitan areas of North Carolina.

Table 1. Regional Population Change, April 1, 2010 – July 1, 2016 Total Population Change No. County April 1, 2010 July 1, 2016 Numeric Percent 33 Central North Carolina 5,394,430 5,850,876 456,446 8.5 41 2,741,090 2,858,245 117,155 4.3 26 Western North Carolina 1,400,168 1,446,821 46,653 3.3 46 Metropolitan* 7,336,591 7,928,609 592,018 8.1 54 Non‐Metropolitan 2,199,097 2,227,333 28,236 1.3 100 State 9,535,688 10,155,942 620,254 6.5 Source: North Carolina OSBM, Standard Population Estimates, Vintage 2016. *Metropolitan counties as defined by U.S. OMB, 2015.

1 See the technical documentation at https://www.osbm.nc.gov/demog/county‐estimates for details on the methodologies employed in the population estimates. 2 OSBM also prepares county population projections for North Carolina counties as well as standard and certified population estimates for municipalities. The data is available on the OSBM website (https://www.osbm.nc.gov/facts‐figures/demographics) or can be obtained by contacting the State Demographer, Dr. Mike Cline ([email protected] or 919‐807‐4756). 3 Three have been defined here for descriptive purposes only. 4 Metropolitan counties as define by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget in 2013. See the Appendix for a listing of all North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Areas and component counties.

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Figure 1. July 1, 2016 Population and April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016 Population Change in North Carolina Regions

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Population Change by Planning Region All regional planning areas except one experienced population growth from 2010 to 2016 (see Table 2 and Figure 2). The Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments in northeastern North Carolina lost 7,709 people between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2016, a 2.5 percent decrease. Slow growth of less than one percent was experienced within the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (0.5%), Lumber River Council of Governments (0.4%), and Western Council of Governments (0.4%). The three planning regions with the most rapid growth included: the Centralina Council of Governments (10.6%), the Triangle J Council of Governments (12.1%) and the Council of Governments region (11.3%). These represent two of our most urban areas of the state (the Charlotte and Raleigh‐Durham areas) and a rapidly urbanizing area (the Wilmington area). Table 3 ranks planning regions in the state according to percentage population change from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016.

Table 2. Planning Region Population Change, April 1, 2010 – July 1, 2016 Total Population Change Rank by April 1, July 1, Percent Planning Region 2010 2016 Numeric Percent Change Albemarle Commission 171,975 175,103 3,128 1.8 11 Cape Fear Council of Governments 420,425 467,999 47,574 11.3 2 Centralina Council of Governments 1,968,624 2,177,385 208,761 10.6 3 Eastern Carolina Council of Governments 632,997 654,635 21,638 3.4 8 High Country Council of Governments 209,965 215,071 5,106 2.4 10 Isothermal Planning and Development 231,379 232,487 1,108 0.5 13 Commission Kerr‐Tar Council of Governments 223,981 229,672 5,691 2.5 9 Land‐of‐Sky Regional Council 398,911 428,909 29,998 7.5 4 Lumber River Council of Governments 299,095 300,239 1,144 0.4 14 Mid‐Carolina Council of Governments 497,606 522,106 24,500 4.9 5 Mid‐East Commission 286,391 290,986 4,595 1.6 12 Council of Governments 1,640,858 1,701,154 60,296 3.7 7 Southwestern Commission 194,099 202,990 8,891 4.6 6 Triangle J Council of Governments 1,683,230 1,887,213 203,983 12.1 1 Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments 310,338 302,629 ‐7,709 ‐2.5 16 Western Piedmont Council of Governments 365,814 367,364 1,550 0.4 15 State 9,535,688 10,155,942 620,254 6.5 Source: North Carolina OSBM, Standard Population Estimates, Vintage 2016.

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Figure 2. April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016 Population Change in North Carolina Planning Regions

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Population Change by Metropolitan Statistical Area The fastest growing metropolitan areas were in recreational destinations along the coast and within the most urbanized areas in the central Piedmont (see Table 3). Brunswick County, which is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area, had the fastest growth among North Carolina metropolitan areas at 18.9 percent (or 20,319 people). This was followed by the Raleigh metropolitan area at 13.4 percent (or 151,174 people). The Wilmington metropolitan area (adjacent to Brunswick County) and the Charlotte metropolitan areas were tied for the third fastest growth during this period (at 11.1 percent growth). Wilmington (consisting of New Hanover and Pender counties) added 28,184 people while the North Carolina counties of the Charlotte‐Concord‐Gastonia MSA added 208,898 people between 2010 and 2016. Among all metropolitan statistical areas, only Rocky Mount saw population decline during this period.

Table 3. Population Change in Metropolitan Areas by Percentage Change, April 1, 2010 – July 1, 2016 Total Population Change Rank Metropolitan Statistical Area April 1, 2010 July 1, 2016 Numeric Percent 1 Myrtle Beach‐Conway‐North Myrtle Beach (NC) 107,431 127,750 20,319 18.9 2 Raleigh 1,130,479 1,281,653 151,174 13.4 3 Charlotte‐Concord‐Gastonia (NC) 1,881,108 2,090,006 208,898 11.1 3 Wilmington 254,883 283,067 28,184 11.1 5 Durham‐Chapel Hill 506,646 555,387 48,741 9.6 6 Jacksonville 177,787 193,914 16,127 9.1 7 Asheville 424,853 456,541 31,688 7.5 8 Beach‐Newport News (NC) 35,733 37,992 2,259 6.3 9 Burlington 151,144 159,054 7,910 5.2 10 Greenville 168,152 175,885 7,733 4.6 11 Greensboro‐High Point 723,854 755,832 31,978 4.4 12 Fayetteville 366,311 382,038 15,727 4.3 13 Winston‐Salem 640,580 661,968 21,388 3.3 14 Goldsboro 122,638 124,808 2,170 1.8 15 New Bern 126,795 127,427 632 0.5 16 Hickory‐Lenoir‐Morganton 365,814 367,364 1,550 0.4 17 Rocky Mount 152,383 147,923 ‐4,460 ‐2.9 Metropolitan 7,336,591 7,928,609 592,018 8.1 Non‐Metropolitan 2,199,097 2,227,333 28,236 1.3 State 9,535,688 10,155,942 620,254 6.5 Source: North Carolina OSBM, Standard Population Estimates, Vintage 2016. See Appendix for component counties of metropolitan statistical areas.

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Population in Metropolitan Statistical Areas At 2.1 million people, the Charlotte‐Concord‐Gastonia5 metropolitan area remains the largest in the state, followed by the Raleigh metropolitan area (at 1.3 million – see Table 4). These two metropolitan areas are over 1 million in population. In 2016, there were five metropolitan areas that contained at least a half million people. Besides Charlotte and Raleigh, these included Greensboro‐High Point (755,832), Winston‐Salem (661,968), and Durham‐Chapel Hill (555,387).

Table 4. Population Change in Metropolitan Areas by Population Size in 2016, April 1, 2010 – July 1, 2016 Total Population Change Rank Metropolitan Statistical Area April 1, 2010 July 1, 2016 Numeric Percent 1 Charlotte‐Concord‐Gastonia (NC) 1,881,108 2,090,006 208,898 11.1 2 Raleigh 1,130,479 1,281,653 151,174 13.4 3 Greensboro‐High Point 723,854 755,832 31,978 4.4 4 Winston‐Salem 640,580 661,968 21,388 3.3 5 Durham‐Chapel Hill 506,646 555,387 48,741 9.6 6 Asheville 424,853 456,541 31,688 7.5 7 Fayetteville 366,311 382,038 15,727 4.3 8 Hickory‐Lenoir‐Morganton 365,814 367,364 1,550 0.4 9 Wilmington 254,883 283,067 28,184 11.1 10 Jacksonville 177,787 193,914 16,127 9.1 11 Greenville 168,152 175,885 7,733 4.6 12 Burlington 151,144 159,054 7,910 5.2 13 Rocky Mount 152,383 147,923 ‐4,460 ‐2.9 14 Myrtle Beach‐Conway‐North Myrtle Beach (NC) 107,431 127,750 20,319 18.9 15 New Bern 126,795 127,427 632 0.5 16 Goldsboro 122,638 124,808 2,170 1.8 17 Virginia Beach‐Newport News (NC) 35,733 37,992 2,259 6.3 Metropolitan 7,336,591 7,928,609 592,018 8.1 Non‐Metropolitan 2,199,097 2,227,333 28,236 1.3 State 9,535,688 10,155,942 620,254 6.5 Source: North Carolina OSBM, Standard Population Estimates, Vintage 2016. See Appendix for component counties of metropolitan statistical areas.

5 The estimated population of the North Carolina components of the metropolitan area only.

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Population Size The most urban counties in North Carolina remained the largest in 2016 (see Table 5). Both Mecklenburg (Charlotte) and Wake (Raleigh) Counties’ population surpassed one million people during this decade. Guilford County (Greensboro‐High Point) had over a half million people by 2016; and 11 more counties had population of at least 200,000. Additionally, by 2016, Union County near Charlotte was the 8th largest county in North Carolina (at 223,915 people), up from a ranking of 10 in 2010.

Table 5. Twenty Largest Counties Ranked by Population Size in 2016 Total Population Change 2010 Rank County April 1, 2010 July 1, 2016 Numeric Percent Rank 1 Mecklenburg 919,637 1,053,545 133,908 14.6 1 2 Wake 901,037 1,026,748 125,711 14.0 2 3 Guilford 488,464 520,230 31,766 6.5 3 4 Forsyth 350,704 369,144 18,440 5.3 4 5 Cumberland 319,431 329,824 10,393 3.3 5 6 Durham 270,055 301,520 31,465 11.7 6 7 Buncombe 238,352 258,406 20,054 8.4 7 8 Union 201,350 223,915 22,565 11.2 10 9 New Hanover 202,688 223,608 20,920 10.3 9 10 Gaston 206,101 215,489 9,388 4.6 8 11 Cabarrus 178,112 200,663 22,551 12.7 11 12 Onslow 177,787 193,914 16,127 9.1 12 13 Johnston 168,904 189,460 20,556 12.2 13 14 Pitt 168,152 175,885 7,733 4.6 14 15 Iredell 159,470 173,391 13,921 8.7 16 16 Davidson 162,843 166,137 3,294 2.0 15 17 Alamance 151,144 159,054 7,910 5.2 18 18 Catawba 154,771 156,473 1,702 1.1 17 19 Randolph 141,779 143,711 1932 1.4 19 20 Rowan 138,502 140,970 2,468 1.8 20 Source: North Carolina OSBM, Certified Population Estimates, Vintage 2016.

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Numeric Change The counties that experienced the largest numeric gains between 2010 and 2016 include: Mecklenburg (Charlotte), which added the most population (133,908), followed by Wake (Raleigh ‐ 125,711), Guilford (Greensboro‐High Point ‐ 31,766) and Durham Counties (Durham ‐ 31,465) (see Table 6). These four counties are located within the Piedmont Urban Crescent.

Table 6. Top Twenty Municipalities with the Largest Numeric Population Gain, 2010‐2016 Total Population Change Rank County April 1, 2010 July 1, 2016 Numeric Percent 1 Mecklenburg 919,637 1,053,545 133,908 14.6 2 Wake 901,037 1,026,748 125,711 14.0 3 Guilford 488,464 520,230 31,766 6.5 4 Durham 270,055 301,520 31,465 11.7 5 Union 201,350 223,915 22,565 11.2 6 Cabarrus 178,112 200,663 22,551 12.7 7 New Hanover 202,688 223,608 20,920 10.3 8 Johnston 168,904 189,460 20,556 12.2 9 Brunswick 107,431 127,750 20,319 18.9 10 Buncombe 238,352 258,406 20,054 8.4 11 Forsyth 350,704 369,144 18,440 5.3 12 Onslow 177,787 193,914 16,127 9.1 13 Harnett 114,707 128,783 14,076 12.3 14 Iredell 159,470 173,391 13,921 8.7 15 Cumberland 319,431 329,824 10,393 3.3 16 Chatham 63,504 73,286 9,782 15.4 17 Gaston 206,101 215,489 9,388 4.6 18 Alamance 151,144 159,054 7,910 5.2 19 Moore 88,250 96,102 7,852 8.9 20 Pitt 168,152 175,885 7,733 4.6

Source: North Carolina OSBM, Standard Population Estimates, Vintage 2016.

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Percentage Change In percentage terms, the fastest growing counties were those that encompassed the Charlotte and Raleigh‐Durham areas as well as resort areas along the coast (see Table 7 and Figure 3). Brunswick County had the largest percentage change between 2010 and 2016 (18.9 percent or 20,319 people). This was followed by Chatham County near Raleigh (15.4 percent or 9,782 people), Mecklenburg County (14.6 percent or 133,908 people) and Wake County (14.0 percent or 125,711 people).

Table 7. Top Twenty Fastest Growing Municipalities, 2010‐2016 Total Population Change Rank County April 1, 2010 July 1, 2016 Numeric Percent 1 Brunswick 107,431 127,750 20,319 18.9 2 Chatham 63,504 73,286 9,782 15.4 3 Mecklenburg 919,637 1,053,545 133,908 14.6 4 Wake 901,037 1,026,748 125,711 14.0 5 Pender 52,195 59,459 7,264 13.9 6 Cabarrus 178,112 200,663 22,551 12.7 7 Harnett 114,707 128,783 14,076 12.3 8 Johnston 168,904 189,460 20,556 12.2 9 Durham 270,055 301,520 31,465 11.7 10 Hoke 46,880 52,214 5,334 11.4 11 Union 201,350 223,915 22,565 11.2 12 Currituck 23,547 26,101 2,554 10.8 13 New Hanover 202,688 223,608 20,920 10.3 14 Onslow 177,787 193,914 16,127 9.1 15 Moore 88,250 96,102 7,852 8.9 16 Iredell 159,470 173,391 13,921 8.7 17 Buncombe 238,352 258,406 20,054 8.4 18 Franklin 60,538 65,445 4,907 8.1 19 Watauga 51,079 54,992 3,913 7.7 20 Dare 33,920 36,387 2,467 7.3

Source: North Carolina OSBM, Standard Population Estimates, Vintage 2016.

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Figure 3. Percentage Population Change in North Carolina Counties, April 1, 2010 – July 1, 2016

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Net Migration Population growth occurs when the sum of the two major components of population change (natural increase and net migration) is positive. Natural increase occurs when an area experiences more births than deaths. Natural increase typically occurs when an area’s population is relatively young (though differentials between fertility and mortality rates also play a role). Net in‐migration occurs when there are more people moving into a county than leaving. Economic growth can help spur moves to the county (and fewer moves away from the county), although other factors may influence positive net migration including being a destination for retirees. Table 8 shows the twenty counties in North Carolina that experienced the largest net in‐migration between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2016. Table 8 also shows the net migration rate (net migrants per 1,000 people in 2010) and the total natural increase/decrease for these twenty counties. The two largest counties experienced the largest net migration during this period, with Mecklenburg County adding 81,018 net migrants from other counties, states and foreign countries and Wake County adding 77,315 net migrants. Net migration accounted for a little over 60% of the growth for both counties. This pattern is contrasted with the next two counties ranked as third and fourth in the number of net migrants during this period. All the growth for Brunswick County and virtually all the growth for Buncombe County was due to net in‐migration. Brunswick County, which includes many beach communities, is a destination for retirees and as a result the county gained over 20,000 residents during this period while it also experienced natural decrease (more people dying than being born). Asheville is the county seat of Buncombe County and the area is a destination for retirees and others seeking a lifestyle. There were slightly more births than deaths during this period, but an increasingly aging population in this area may portend a greater dependence on migration for population increases. Table 9 shows the top twenty counties ranked by net migration while Figure 4 shows a map of net migration rates for all counties in North Carolina. Counties with the highest rates of net in‐ migration are either retirement destinations or are in and around the largest metropolitan areas. However, there are more people leaving than moving to thirty‐six counties in the state. Those areas with net out‐migration are located primarily in the eastern portion of the state and particularly in non‐metropolitan counties. Reflecting an increasingly aging population in the state, most counties (53) in North Carolina experienced natural decrease (see Figure 5). The counties that experienced natural increase were primarily metropolitan. The highest rates of natural increase were for counties in the Raleigh and Charlotte metropolitan areas or the counties with or near large military installations (Onslow, Cumberland and Hoke Counties). The map shown as Figure 6 classifies counties according to the components of change. The counties in shades of blue experienced net in‐migration between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2016. There were 31 counties, located mostly in the Piedmont Urban Crescent or in recreation and retirement areas located along the coast or in the that experience both natural

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increase and net in‐migration. Another 33 counties experienced net in‐migration but also experienced natural decrease. For some of these counties, net in‐migration was not enough to overcome natural decrease, and thus the overall population declined in size. Of the 33 counties of this type, seven lost population. The next set of sixteen counties, experienced net out‐migration combined with natural increase between 2010 and 2016. For most of these counties, natural increase was enough to overcome losses due to net out‐migration. Only seven of these counties lost population overall. The final set of twenty counties lost population because of both net out‐migration and natural decrease. These counties were located primarily in the northeast and in non‐metropolitan counties in other areas of the state.

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Table 8. Largest Net Migration, 2010 ‐ 2016 Net Components Migration Total Population Change of Change Rate Natural Net (net migrants Rank County April 1, 2010 July 1, 2016 Numeric Percent Increase Migration per 1,000) 1 Mecklenburg 919,637 1,053,545 133,908 14.6 52,890 81,018 88.1 2 Wake 901,037 1,026,748 125,711 14.0 48,396 77,315 85.8 3 Brunswick 107,431 127,750 20,319 18.9 ‐1,155 21,474 199.9 4 Buncombe 238,352 258,406 20,054 8.4 648 19,406 81.4 5 Guilford 488,464 520,230 31,766 6.5 12,501 19,265 39.4 6 New Hanover 202,688 223,608 20,920 10.3 2,906 18,014 88.9 7 Cabarrus 178,112 200,663 22,551 12.7 5,553 16,998 95.4 8 Durham 270,055 301,520 31,465 11.7 14,817 16,648 61.6 9 Union 201,350 223,915 22,565 11.2 6,907 15,658 77.8 10 Johnston 168,904 189,460 20,556 12.2 6,119 14,437 85.5 11 Iredell 159,470 173,391 13,921 8.7 2,146 11,775 73.8 12 Chatham 63,504 73,286 9,782 15.4 ‐147 9,929 156.4 13 Forsyth 350,704 369,144 18,440 5.3 8,699 9,741 27.8 14 Henderson 106,692 114,385 7,693 7.2 ‐1,887 9,580 89.8 15 Moore 88,250 96,102 7,852 8.9 ‐585 8,437 95.6 16 Harnett 114,707 128,783 14,076 12.3 5,753 8,323 72.6 17 Gaston 206,101 215,489 9,388 4.6 2,099 7,289 35.4 18 Pender 52,195 59,459 7,264 13.9 655 6,609 126.6 19 Alamance 151,144 159,054 7,910 5.2 1,429 6,481 42.9 20 Carteret 66,468 69,881 3,413 5.1 ‐1,097 4,510 67.9 Source: North Carolina OSBM, Standard Population Estimates, Vintage 2016.

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Table 9. Largest Net Migration Rate, 2010 ‐ 2016

Components of Total Population Change Change Net Natural Net Migration Rank County April 1, 2010 July 1, 2016 Numeric Percent Increase Migration Rate 1 Brunswick 107,431 127,750 20,319 18.9 ‐1,155 21,474 199.9 2 Chatham 63,504 73,286 9,782 15.4 ‐147 9,929 156.4 3 Pender 919,637 1,053,545 133,908 14.6 655 6,609 126.6 4 Clay 901,037 1,026,748 125,711 14.0 ‐349 1,075 101.5 5 Currituck 52,195 59,459 7,264 13.9 195 2,359 100.2 6 Moore 178,112 200,663 22,551 12.7 ‐585 8,437 95.6 7 Cabarrus 114,707 128,783 14,076 12.3 5,553 16,998 95.4 8 Henderson 168,904 189,460 20,556 12.2 ‐1,887 9,580 89.8 9 New Hanover 270,055 301,520 31,465 11.7 2,906 18,014 88.9 10 Mecklenburg 46,880 52,214 5,334 11.4 52,890 81,018 88.1 11 Wake 201,350 223,915 22,565 11.2 48,396 77,315 85.8 12 Johnston 23,547 26,101 2,554 10.8 6,119 14,437 85.5 13 Buncombe 202,688 223,608 20,920 10.3 648 19,406 81.4 14 Union 177,787 193,914 16,127 9.1 6,907 15,658 77.8 15 Watauga 88,250 96,102 7,852 8.9 46 3,867 75.7 16 Polk 159,470 173,391 13,921 8.7 ‐1,007 1,525 74.3 17 Iredell 238,352 258,406 20,054 8.4 2,146 11,775 73.8 18 Harnett 60,538 65,445 4,907 8.1 5,753 8,323 72.6 19 51,079 54,992 3,913 7.7 ‐834 1,984 72.3 20 Madison 33,920 36,387 2,467 7.3 ‐263 1,465 70.5 Source: North Carolina OSBM, Standard Population Estimates, Vintage 2016.

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Figure 4. Rate of Net Migration (Per 1,000 Population) for North Carolina Counties, April 1, 2010 – July 1, 2016

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Figure 5. Rate of Natural Increase/Decrease (Per 1,000 Population) for North Carolina Counties, April 1, 2010 – July 1, 2016

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Figure 6. North Carolina Counties Classified According to Components of Population Change, April 1, 2010 – July 1, 2016

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Appendix: Principal Cities and Component Counties of Metropolitan Statistical Areas in North Carolina

Metropolitan Statistical Area Principal Cities Component Counties Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Asheville Asheville Madison Burlington Burlington Alamance Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Charlotte‐Concord‐Gastonia (NC) Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union Chatham, Durham, Orange, Durham‐Chapel Hill Durham, Chapel Hill Person Fayetteville Fayetteville Cumberland, Hoke Goldsboro Goldsboro Wayne Greensboro‐High Point Greensboro, High Point Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham Greenville Greenville Pitt Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Hickory‐Lenoir‐Morganton Hickory, Lenoir, Morganton Catawba Jacksonville Jacksonville Onslow Myrtle Beach‐Conway‐North Myrtle Beach (NC) (none in NC) Brunswick New Bern New Bern Craven, Jones, Pamlico Raleigh Raleigh, Cary Franklin, Johnston, Wake Rocky Mount Rocky Mount Edgecombe, Nash

Virginia Beach‐Newport News (NC) (none in NC) Currituck, Gates

Wilmington Wilmington New Hanover, Pender Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Winston‐Salem Winston‐Salem Yadkin

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