By KEVIN NEVERS

It will hardly come as a surprise to anyone on the Chesterton Plan Commission, but the population of the town is growing about as fast as new houses can be built for new residents.

According to estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, between April 2000 and June 2003 Chesterton’s population grew by 651 or 6.2 percent, from 10,488 to 11,139. Over the same period the town issued building permits for 269 single-family homes and 56 duplexes.

The 6.2 percent increase does not match the spurt experienced by the town between 1990 and 2000—when it grew by 1,309 or 14.3 percent, from 9,124 to 10,433—but it nevertheless represents the greatest growth among Porter County municipalities.

The population explosion in Porter, in contrast—which grew by 1,854 or 59.4 percent, from 3,118 in 1990 to 4,972 in 2000—has slowed considerably. Between April 2000 and June 2003 Porter grew by only 122 or 2.5 percent, from 4,792 to 4,972.

Estimates for other Duneland municipalities:

•The population of Burns Harbor increased by a single person, from 766 to 767, an increase of 0.13 percent.

•The population of Dune Acres grew by three, from 213 to 216, an increase of 1.4 percent.

•The population of Beverly Shores fell by nine, from 708 to 699, a decrease of 1.27 percent.

Meanwhile, the largest city in Porter County, Portage, grew by 1,419 or 4.2 percent, from 33,496 to 34,915; while its rival, Valparaiso, grew by 937 or 3.41 percent, from 27,428 to 28,365. The population of Porter County as a whole grew by 5,735 or 3.9 percent, from 146,798 to 152,533.

Liberty Township, on the other hand, grew even faster than Chesterton did over the same period: by 487 or 7.2 percent, from 6,727 to 7,214. Westchester Township grew by 716 or 3.94 percent, from 18,133 to 18,849. Jackson Township grew by 215 or 4.68 percent, from 4,592 to 4,807. And Pine Township grew by 112 or 3.92 percent, from 2,853 to 2,965.

Posted 6/24/2004