Eastern NC population drain

[NcSc74]

I never spent much time in Greenville. Most times it was just to take my mom to a bone/joint specialist. Cape Fear Vally(hospital) referred her so imagine the drive to G-ville from F-ville twice a week. I guess that says something about the city and its position in eastern NC as far as medical facility wise. I didn't get a chance to ride around and explore much so I don't know much about its infrastucture or the character of the place. I would imagine ECU plays a huge role in the area. I am curious so next time I'm home I think I will include it on my trek out east. I had planned on doing a pic tour driving up 17. I think I will make a side trip to Greenville on my way back to Fayetteville. I really want to take my kids to Roanoke Island and show them some history out there. We have been living in the southwest for a while it will be nice to take a break and see some trees and ocean but the sand not so much.

[Lithuania]

As other towns and counties lose population in Eastern NC, Greenville is still growing at a pretty rapid rate. I just read this article in the Daily Reflector:

http://www.reflector.com/local/content/new...illegrowth.html

I doubt the student population of ECU was factored in the Census estimates. What's funny is Greenville doesn't even seem this populated...probably because the downtown area is pretty small. I agree with the article about the college and hospital being the impetus for growth.

[davidals]

As other towns and counties lose population in Eastern NC, Greenville is still growing at a pretty rapid rate. I just read this article in the Daily Reflector:

http://www.reflector.com/local/content/new...illegrowth.html

I doubt the student population of ECU was factored in the Census estimates. What's funny is Greenville doesn't even seem this populated...probably because the downtown area is pretty small. I agree with the article about the college and hospital being the impetus for growth.

It's been a while since I've been there, but I remember the downtown seeming kind of small, but pretty well-kept. Riding around the city, it did feel a lot bigger, very sprawly, and that's been 5 years ago. Not sure just how things have changed since; there was the impression of driving into someplace pretty substantial - 264 might be the dullest highway to have ever been built, and after that coma-inducing stretch of freeway between Wilson and Greenville, and you suddenly just *bang* happen upon this city, so I guess in one way or another it does leave an impression.

[Lithuania]

Greenville is pretty sprawled out, but if feels smaller to me because of the downtown. Compared to cities of similar size within city limits (Asheville, Hickory, etc.) the downtown doesn't have larger buildings and is very compact.

From what i've heard, a lot of structures were demolished in the 70's, destroying older homes and businesses that had been blighted. Because of this, Greenville seems so new (to me, at least).

I agree - US 264 just kinda dumps you in Greenville after miles of pretty much nothing. I guess after seeing nothing for an hour, Greenville seems like a larger city.

I'd like to see Little Washington take off...it has potential to be a nice spot like New Bern.

[JeffC]

I'd like to see Little Washington take off...it has potential to be a nice spot like New Bern.

It already is a pretty nice spot. The old downtown theater, the Turnage, is being renovated, and ECU Summer Theater series will do a couple of shows there each summer...Town has one of the most intact early 20th century downtown commercial districts you will find anywhere.

[Lithuania]

^I agree, it is a nice commercial district that has lots of potential. I noticed last time I was down there that developers were trying to convert some of the old buildings into condos, which would be cool. There are also some nice restaurants - I recently ate at Pia's and thought it was outstanding. The theater renovations sound like a great addition...something that downtown Greenville does not have.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Except for one mountain county, every county that lost population in NC was in eastern NC, particularly the northeast quadrant.

[NcSc74]

Not surprsing since the light manufacturing sector has packed up and headed over the Pacific ocean. However the business climate, recession and high energy prices have ushered in a new thinking for NC. Finally the state is urbanizing and the major metro regions are growing at a nice clip. People go where the jobs are and as of right now all the innovation and job creation is happening in Charlotte, Triad, Traingle, Wilmington and not surprising Fayetteville area. I'm not sure about Greenville numbers but I'm sure it is drawing in a lot of people from all over the NE county areas. Not only that Hamptonm Roads continues to draw in NC residents. I gotta check the map but I think HR already has 1 or 2 NC counties in its metro area. IF not metro but surely CMSA.

[krazeeboi]

Yeah, Currituck County is included in the Hampton Roads MSA (I don't think HR has a CSA).

[DCMetroRaleigh]

July 1, 2011 US Census Estimates (Population and Growth from July 1, 2010)

Beaufort County

47,691

-0.1%

Bertie County

20,874

-2.0%

Bladen County

34,928

-0.7%

Brunswick County

110,097

+2.5%

Camden County

10,014

+0.3

Carteret County

67,373

+1,4%

Columbus County

57,712

-0.7%

Craven County

104,786

+1.2%

Currituck County

23,955

+1.7%

Dare County

34,307

+1.1%

Duplin County

59,542

+1.8%

Edgecombe County

56,041

-0.9%

Gates County

12,043

-1.2%

Greene County

21,556

+0.9%

Halifax County

54,173

-0.9%

Hertford County

24,433

-0.9%

Hyde County

5,822

+0.2%

Jones County

10,020

-1.3%

Lenoir County

59,339

+0.3%

Martin County

24,180

+1.3%

Nash County

96,116

+0.3%

New Hanover County

206,189

+1.7%

Northhampton County

21,893

-0.9%

Onslow County

179,719

1.1%

Pamlico County

13,197

+0.4%

Pasquotank County

40,696

+0.1%

Pender County

53,399

+2.3%

Pitt County

171,134

1.8%

Perquimans County

13,487

+0.3%

Robeson County

135,517

+1.0%

Sampson County

63,734

+0.5%

Tyrell County

4,364

-1%

Warren County

20,861

-0.5%

Washington County

12,973

-1.9%

Wayne County

123,697

+0.9%

Wilson County

81,452

+0.3

%

[NcSc74]

Some things that surprised me about this data was holy crap Craven and Brunswick have 100K, where was I when that happened. Has New Bern grown that much or is it a net county effect.

Also its just freakin odd at how sparsely the coast is populated compared to the other east coast states. It blows my mind to think that a state as old as NC is just could not get any folks to settle on the coast at all till the 20th century. No offence to Raleigh we all love the city of oaks but did our founding fathers make a mistake(to strong a word) did they miss the boat by moving the capitol sooooooooo far away from the coast considering where the first settlers were located. I mean look I get the safety of an inland capitol but t Richmond was laid out an a river that has marine traffic on it so thats an even argument to me. Columbia kinda same but is closer to the ocean. ATL well it has the advantage foothills. My argument is I think the right idea was made but poorly executed and hindsight being 20/20 that decision has doomed eastern NC ever since. Just my 2 cents anyway...again we love Raleigh it has turned out to be one of the best places to live in the country but just sayin

[urbanvb]

NE NC has been losing population for years now. This area is very depressed with few jobs and little to offer most folks. Most folks I know regularly go to Hampton Roads for entertainment, shopping and dining. Besides fast food there isn't even a nice sit down type family restaurant in the Ahoskie area, Hertford county's largest city err town.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

How are the NC Hampton Roads exurban counties being transformed by the growth, such as Currituck County?

[krazeeboi]

Some things that surprised me about this data was holy crap Craven and Brunswick have 100K, where was I when that happened. Has New Bern grown that much or is it a net county effect.

Also its just freakin odd at how sparsely the coast is populated compared to the other east coast states. It blows my mind to think that a state as old as NC is just could not get any folks to settle on the coast at all till the 20th century. No offence to Raleigh we all love the city of oaks but did our founding fathers make a mistake(to strong a word) did they miss the boat by moving the capitol sooooooooo far away from the coast considering where the first settlers were located. I mean look I get the safety of an inland capitol but t Richmond was laid out an a river that has marine traffic on it so thats an even argument to me. Columbia kinda same but is closer to the ocean. ATL well it has the advantage foothills. My argument is I think the right idea was made but poorly executed and hindsight being 20/20 that decision has doomed eastern NC ever since. Just my 2 cents anyway...again we love Raleigh it has turned out to be one of the best places to live in the country but just sayin

Raleigh was central to the state's population at the time it was founded which is why it is where it is. Eastern/coastal NC isn't as developed as its counterparts in neighboring states because of the geography of the NC coastline. It is also the reason why NC doesn't have a major port a la Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, or Jacksonville, FL.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Eastern North Carolinaaround U.S. 70 and U.S. 17 is projected to grow by a million people before 2050, and area business and government leaders hope to help it grow sensibly.

http://www.newbernsj.com/articles/growth-106134-grow-region.html