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By KEVIN NEVERS If any more evidence were needed of the impact of the recession on Duneland, it could be found in the 2008 population estimates released on Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Among the findings: between 2007-08, Chesterton’s annual population growth rate hit an eight-year low of 1.46 percent, compared to the average rate since 2000-01 of 2.43 percent and the highest rate in that period of 3.62 percent, posted in 2004-05. Indeed, since 2004-05 Chesterton’s annual population growth rate has steadily declined: 3.3 percent for 2005-06, 2.15 for 2006-07, and 1.46 percent for 2007-08. That decline in growth rates closely tracks a general decline in the annual number of residential building permits issued by the town: 206 in 2004 (the highest number in the eight-period), 168 in 2005, 94 in 2006, 61 in 2007, and 38 in 2008. Between 2004 and 2008, the number of building permits issued by Chesterton plummeted by 82 percent. Through June of this year only 10 residential building permits have been issued in Chesterton. Even so--with the exception of Burns Harbor, where the Villages of Burns Harbor subdivision has spiked that town ’s population enormously in the last few years--Chesterton boasts the highest total population growth rate since 2000-01 of any municipality in Porter County: 21.14 percent, from 10,488 in 2000 to 12,705 in 2008.Burns Harbor’s total growth rate since 2000-01 is 43.6 percent, from 766 in 2000 to 1,100 in 2008, with most of that increase posted in 2005-06, when the rate hit 24.13 percent and the population grew from 808 to 1,003. The estimates for Porter, on the other hand, tell a different story. Porter’s annual growth rate since 2000-01 is only 8.19 percent, from 4,972 in 2000 to 5,379 in 2008, with an average annual rate of 0.99 percent and the lowest rate of 0.45 percent posted twice, in 2002-03 and 2003-04. Porter’s growth rate in 2007-08 was 0.92 percent. Porter County Cities *Portage ’s total growth rate since 2000-01 is 10.39 percent, from 33,496 in 2000 to 36,976 in 2008, with an average annual rate of 1.24 percent. Portage’s growth rate in 2007-08 was 1.55 percent.*Valparaiso ’s total growth rate since 2000-01 is 10.94 percent, from 27,428 in 2000 to 30,429 in 2008, with an average annual rate of 1.31 percent. Valparaiso’s growth rate in 2007-08 was 1.46 percent.Other Municipalities *Dune Acres ’ total growth rate since 2000-01 is 8.45 percent, from 213 in 2000 to 231 in 2008. It posted an annual growth rate in 2007-08 of 1.76 percent.*Beverly Shores ’ total growth rate since 2000-01 is 2.97 percent, from 708 in 2000 to 729 in 2008. It posted an annual growth rate in 2007-08 of 1.53 percent.*Ogden Dunes actually reported a negative growth rate since 2000-01 of -2.67 percent, from 1,313 in 2000 to 1,278 in 2008. It did post an annual growth rate of 0.47 percent in 2007-08. *Hebron ’ total growth rate since 2000-01 is 2.84 percent, from 3,596 in 2000 to 3,698 in 2008. It posted an annual growth rate in 2007-08 of 0.93 percent.*Kouts ’ total growth rate since 2000-01 is 8.89 percent, from 1,698 in 2000 to 1,849 in 2008. It posted an annual growth rate in 2007-08 of 2.32 percent.Statewide The Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business has crunched the census estimates for the rest of the state. Its findings: *The largest population gains among cities and towns within the last year were concentrated in the Indianapolis metro area and Lake County. Portage (ranked 16th), Mishawaka (18th), Lafayette (19th), and Goshen (20th) were with the top 20 largest gainers outside the Indianapolis metro area or Lake County. *Of the state ’s 20 largest cities, the ones with the greatest rate of population declines since 2000 are Hammond (-7.6 percent), Gary (-6.6 percent), Muncie (-4.7 percent), Evansville (-4.4 percent), and South Bend (-4.2 percent).*Fishers has had the largest numeric growth of all Indiana cities since 2000, with a gain of 30,803. *The Town of Winfield in Lake County is the fastest growing municipality in the state, with a 120.1 percent increase since 2000, with a 2008 population estimate of 4,484. *Most Hoosiers live in incorporated cities or towns. Of the state ’s 6.4 million residents, 64.7 percent resides in places which were legally incorporated as of Jan. 1, 2008.*Although population growth in unincorporated areas accounted for 74 percent of the state ’s total growth between 2001 and 2005, that trend has slowed in the last three years, with unincorporated areas accounting for only 71 percent of that total growth between 2006 and 2008.
Posted 7/3/2009 |
