Cherokee’s population has cracked 200,000, according to new data, propelling it to become the 18th fastest-growing county in the nation.

The population boomed to 204,363 by last July from 194,082 in July of 2006 - a change of 10,281 people and a 5.3-percent increase, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated in a new report released Thursday. The addition of an average of 28 new people a day helped boost the county to No. 18 on the bureau’s list of the 100 fastest-growing counties in the U.S. with populations greater than 10,000.

Between April of 2000 and last July, Cherokee added 62,460 residents for a growth rate of 44 percent, ranking it No. 21 on the national list for that period, up from No. 24 in last year’s report. For the seven-year period, Cherokee also is the sixth-highest ranked Georgia county, following Forsyth, Paulding, Henry, Newton and Barrow. Forsyth again ranks at No. 8 with 61.5 percent growth, totaling 60,507 new residents.

Between July 2006 and last July, Cherokee saw more births, with 3,575 as compared to 3,047 the previous year, and deaths, with 1,048 as compared to 963. Fewer people relocated to Cherokee from other counties and states, with 7,363 moving in between July 2006 and last July, as compared to 8,490 the previous year, as well as from other countries, with 463 as compared to 521.

Doug Bachtel, an expert demographer and University of Georgia professor, thinks jobs, housing and schools will keep people coming to Cherokee, and likely have during the months since last July, but other factors may dry up the stream. "We’ve had phenomenal growth, but we’re still not trying to slow it down yet, but the drought may be doing that," he said, noting that if crime rises or schools fail, interest also would lag. "Things like that could put the kabash on growth, as most migrants are young and in their child-rearing years."

Excerpted from the Cherokee Tribune, March 21, 2008

Home sales in Cherokee County rose increased in February, compared to the previous month, but were still way below last year’s level:

• Sales in February were 162, compared to 131 in January 319 in February 2007.
• Sales for the first two months of this year were 293 compared to 532 in the first two months of 2007.
• The average price of homes sold in the first two months of 2008 was $238,344, a 2.6% drop from the comparable period last year.

So, sales are heading in the right direction, although they have a long way to go to catch up to the pace of the last few years and especially to absorb the current inventory of 3,160 homes on the market in Cherokee County.  1568 listings were added to the Cherokee County inventory during January and February, which was slightly below from 1624 listings added during the same period last year.

If you are interested in knowing the sales activity in your neighborhood, go to my web site, www.YourCherokeeCountyHome.com and click on “Your Home’s Value.”

Every resident in Cherokee County is aware that the population has exploded in recent years, so a recent report from the Atlanta Regional Commission that three of Cherokee County’s cities doubled in population between 2000 and 2007 will come as no surprise.

The ARC’s overall population estimate for Cherokee County  as of April 1, 2007. was 196,700, a gain of 54,800 (38.6%), with the number of single-family housing units increasing  by 20,120 (44.6%) to a total of 65,264.

For information on ARC population estimates, visit www.atlantaregional.com.

Last year the Development Authority of Cherokee County (DACC) conducted a state-designed survey of existing industries called Business InSight. 20 of the 45 industries in Cherokee County with 20 more employees participated in the survey.  Below is a sampling of the information gathered through the Business InSight Program. If the companies surveyed:

• 90% showed a medium to high potential for growth, 60% showed a low risk of leaving the county and 45% showed high technological growth.
• 100% indicated total sales were stable of increasing and 50% indicated that their market share within their industry was increasing.
• 65% boast a growing or maturing product line.
• 40% of companies’ primary market is national, 15% have a regional primary market and 15% have an international primary market, the remaining 30% have combined primary markets.
• International markets include, Israel, China, Russia, Australia, Europe, Saudi Arabia, the Virgin islands, Japan, Korea and Brazil.

Source: 2007 Economic Development Annual Report, Development Authority of Cherokee County, Georgia

Since 1990, Cherokee County has grown from 90,000 people to almost 200,000, said Misti Martin, executive director of the Development Authority of Cherokee County.

"I think that it speaks to the quality of life of this area because so many people want to move here," she said.

A good public school system, health care and lower taxes than living in Atlanta attracted these people, who can have a nice house, yard, send their children to good schools and find parks and recreation.

"I think especially for young families this is a great place to live," Martin said.

Research by the Development Authority staff for a corporate campus project revealed a large number of people in their late 30s and early 40s who had gotten married and had children have moved to the area.

Cherokee is a great community for small business, she said. A lot of people working in Cobb County or Atlanta have grown tired of the commute. The county started getting calls from people wanting to start their own business more than 10 years ago. The Development Authority widened its business to serve the small business community also.

Excerpted from the North Fulton Business Post. Go to www.northfulton.com to read the entire article.