Maricopa County was fastest-growing county in US from 2016-2017
Mar 23, 2018, 4:35 AM
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — Maricopa County was the fastest-growing county in the United states from 2016 to 2017, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The county added 73,650 people during that time period, a figure that came out to just more than 200 people per day.
Maricopa County also accounted for the largest percentage growth of the nation’s most populous counties, at 1.7 percent.
However, the county was still the fourth-most populous in the United States, behind Los Angeles, Cook (Chicago), and Harris (Houston) counties.
Molly Cromwell, a demographer with the Census Bureau, told KTAR News 92.3 FM that there were several factors that contributed to the county’s population growth during that time period.
“The population growth has been consistent for the past few years for Maricopa County, and that’s largely because of gains from net domestic migration as well as natural increase, meaning more births than deaths, and net international migration,” she said.
Cromwell said net domestic migration was the biggest contributor to Maricopa County’s growth from 2016 to 2017, with 38,000 more people coming into the county than leaving.
The second factor that contributed to the county’s growth was natural increase, with 24,000 people. Net international migration also played a big role, with 11,000 more people coming into the county than leaving.
But Cromwell said there was one statistic that jumped out at her: Since 2010, net migration in the county increased from 5,000 to 50,000.
Overall, Cromwell said the trend in Maricopa County is one of constant gains due to the large population size.
In a statement, Steve Chucri, the chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, said it is a fact that the county is a “more desirable place to live and work than it has ever been.”
“We are now home to 4.3 million people, strong tech, health, aerospace, business, and agricultural sectors, low unemployment, world-class universities and phenomenal options for leisure and recreation. It’s no wonder people want to start careers, raise families, and retire here.”
Chucri said he was confident that county leaders will ensure that the growth is sustainable and that the environment is “healthy for generations to come.”
KTAR News’ Ali Vetnar contributed to this report.
