Columbia Area Population Statistics

[waccamatt]

No.

No, they'd say, "I'm from Hopkins."

I don't think you guys realize how many people out in Hopkins have wells and septic tanks. Being annexed by Columbia does nothing for them except raise taxes.

If they had city-type of services, though, they would save money on homeowner's insurance and they would eventually have water and sewer.

[Captain Worley]

Yeah, but if the well and septic work...

[CorgiMatt]

Let's take a vote. All those who would like to see the city of Columbia's population rise from 116,278 in 2000 to at least 125,000 in the 2010 census say yes. All those who wouldn't mind seeing it slip because it would mean the suburbs are the bright spots for growth say no. All those who don't care say hmm.

[Captain Worley]

I say let it slip and perserve the rural areas.

[Spartan]

There is some merit to the argument that rural housing doesn't need to be in an incorporated city. They typically don't need city services to start with. Subdivisions are the main culprit.

[Captain Worley]

^I'm cool with annexing suburbs, but 'all of Richco ought to be annexed into Colatown' is a load of malarkey.

[krazeeboi]

No, they'd say, "I'm from Hopkins."

Not initially, and it depends on who they're talking to. One of my co-workers who works right across from me is actually from Hopkins, but always says she's going back home "to Columbia." When we initially met, she told me she was from Columbia, and when I asked her what part because I was from South Carolina as well, that's when she said Hopkins.

I don't think you guys realize how many people out in Hopkins have wells and septic tanks. Being annexed by Columbia does nothing for them except raise taxes.

If the city isn't going to provide municipal water and sewer services or if it isn't cost-effective to do so, then they should not be annexed.

^I'm cool with annexing suburbs, but 'all of Richco ought to be annexed into Colatown' is a load of malarkey.

There are benefits to city-county consolidation, but I honestly don't think that Columbia/Richland County is ready for that from a political leadership perspective.

[Spartan]

If the city isn't going to provide municipal water and sewer services or if it isn't cost-effective to do so, then they should not be annexed.

While I don't deal with South Carolina annexation law very often, usually when a city annexes something, it comes in at a default zoning based on its land use, and typically the city is obligated by law to provide it services.

[CorgiMatt]

As much as some of us have seemed to want it, Columbia's population growth has not given the city a reputation as one of the nation's boom towns. It turns out that could be a good thing. Moderation may have been in Columbia's best interests. In what ways does everyone think the attached article applies or doesn't apply to the Capital City?

http://www.subchat.com/otchat/read.asp?Id=455862

[waccamatt]

I've always liked the good, steady growth that Columbia has always had. Never a boom and never a bust is a recipe for success and sanity - look at the horrible traffic problems in Charlotte and Atlanta because the infrastructure couldn't keep up with the growth.

[krazeeboi]

Infrastructure will never be completely adequate for a city's size. Columbia can have tight traffic in some areas despite having experienced only moderate growth. And I don't think it's so much about infrastructure keeping up with growth as it is about properly coordinating land use with transportation which is what most cities get wrong to begin with--usually because there isn't a regional plan in place to address such concerns which cross jurisdictional boundaries.

As for Columbia (and SC in general), it's probably good that it skipped this latest round of high population growth, as sustainability has now become more of a focus in determining how and what we build. But still, Columbia will have to do a better job of creating and attracting high-growth, high-wage jobs and industries if it is to remain competitive among its peer cities and create a higher quality of life for all of its residents.

[growingup15]

I love Columbia's steady growth. but I would like to see columbia start to grow alittle bit faster. but not super fast just a bit faster.Now i can say that i've seen alot of new people in columbia becuase this friday past when i asked people questions for my Online show alot of them told that they just moved to columbia over the past few months.

[CorgiMatt]

The US Census Bureau has released its 7/1/08 population figures for incorporated places of 100,000 and over. Columbia was up to 127,029, a gain of 10,751 people since 2000.

http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables...-EST2008-01.csv

[waccamatt]

That's a pretty good gain in 8 years considering our highly restrictive annexation laws in South Carolina.

[krazeeboi]

Now all Columbia needs is about 2,500 more residents to become as large as Cary.

[CorgiMatt]

If Cayce doesn't want to be in Columbia's shadow anymore as Avery Wilkerson said, they'd better start adding some people.

http://www.thestate.com/business/story/849336.html

[Spartan]

I hate to burst anyone's bubble over in Cayce, but they will always be in Columbia's shadow, as will every other city and town in the metro area.

[CorgiMatt]

Forest Acres also. They're losing population. I still like the boroughs idea, like NYC does it. The boroughs keep (would keep)their own identity but are (would be) part of NYC (Columbia).

[CorgiMatt]

According to Census Bureau statistics released today, the Columbia MSA gained 12,172 people from 7/1/08-7/1/09, the most in the state and the 41st most in the nation. Charleston gained 11,997 and Greenville gained 9,519.

Table 5. Estimates of Population Change for Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Rankings: July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2009

I can't figure out how to create the link with the population tables.

[gamecoxfan1]

Awesome! To get a link, press the insert link button with the chain on the edit bar.

[CorgiMatt]

That's Greek to me.

[Spartan]

When you are typing in the reply box, its the button right of the smiley face that looks like a chain.

[krazeeboi]

Columbia's population growth held steady amidst the start of the recession. Here are the yearly population change figures of the MSA from 2000 based on Census estimates:

2000-2001: 8,303

2001-2002: 5,799

2002-2003: 9,634

2003-2004: 11,724

2004-2005: 6,395

2005-2006: 12,812

2006-2007: 12,247

2007-2008: 12,936

2008-2009: 12,172

Here's another statistic that I saw posted on another forum, and it surprised me to see Columbia ranked. These are the top 25 metros that had the greatest positive migration both domestic and international from 2008 to 2009.

Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown: 5,867,489 - +77,658

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington: 6,447,615 - +76,812

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: 5,476,241 - +50,093

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta: 5,475,213 - +37,767

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale: 4,364,094 - +34,274

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont: 4,317,853 - +32,353

Austin-Round Rock: 1,705,075 - +32,060

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue: 3,407,848 - +29,954

Denver-Aurora-Broomfield: 2,552,195 - +28,569

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy: 4,588,680 - +26,063

Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord: 1,745,524 - +23,889

Raleigh-Cary: 1,125,827 - +23,655

Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton: 2,241,841 - +23,000

San Antonio: 2,072,128 - +22,287

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach: 5,547,051 - +22,227

New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner: 1,189,981 - +16,404

Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin: 1,582,264 - +14,676

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater: 2,747,272 - +12,708

Oklahoma City: 1,227,278 - +11,192

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara: 1,839,700 - +10,986

Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville: 2,127,355 - +10,789

Indianapolis-Carmel: 1,743,658 - +9,843

Columbus: 1,801,848 - +9,081

Columbia, SC: 744,730 - +8,478

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario: 4,143,113 - +7,848

You can see these stats by clinking on the link found here.

[CorgiMatt]

Must be the lake. And the university/capital city thing. Lexington and Richland counties added about 5,800 and 5,500 respectively.

[smithc5]

I read earlier that more counties are added 3 years after the census. What is the chance of Sumter and Orangeburg counties being added to the Columbia MSA in 2013?