Census: Population In The Triad Is On The Rise

Winston-Salem grew faster than the state as a whole from 2013 to 2014, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Winston-Salem grew by 1.12 percent from 2013 to 2014, adding about 2,640 people. Greensboro also added residents, roughly about a one percent increase. It's a trend that some researchers expect to continue for both cities in the coming years.

Keith Debbage, a geography professor at UNC Greensboro, says the data is a good reflection of the state's economy. He says both cities have found ways to offset some of the job losses in the manufacturing industry.

“Winston-Salem has obviously made a tactical decision to invest in the downtown area, while Greensboro has made a decision to invest quite heavily in the aviation related industry near the airport,” says Debbage. “That has allowed us to reinvent ourselves and for the city to attract more people than it loses.”

Large metropolitan areas in like Charlotte and Raleigh are also adding residents. The report estimates that Charlotte has more than 800,000 people, making it the nation's third-fastest growing city.

Debbage says a highly skilled workforce and retirement migration to the mountains and coastal plains are also contributing to North Carolina's population boom.

This fall, the American Community Survey will be released, which gives a clearer picture of the demographics behind this population growth.

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