Noblesville's Growth Outpaces County
Noblesville's Growth Outpaces County
March 20, 2006 – Paraphrased Article from Noblesville Daily Times
By: Rebecca L. Sandlin, Staff Writer
When all the talk in Hamilton County seems to be about growth these days, the new statistics released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau shouldn't be surprising.
From 2000 to 2005, the report lists Hamilton County as the 18th fastest-growing county in the U.S. in cities with populations over 10,000.
The county's population stands officially at 231,760, a growth of nearly 32 percent from 182,740 in 2000 — an increase of 57,945 people.
Hamilton County Commissioner Steve Dillinger said he wasn't surprised by the numbers.
“If you look at the way counties are graded, as per capita income, average housing cost, low crime, low unemployment, good schools — all those indicators — Hamilton County has been rated No. 1 in Indiana for a long time now,” he said. “Everyone wants to be where it's happening, and it happens to be happening here.”
He surmised that people want to move somewhere where it's safe, where schools are good, taxes are low, good appreciation in home values and high incomes with available jobs.
“It just makes it an ideal place to come,” he said.
Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear said in Noblesville, the special census conducted by the city last year shows a jump in population from approximately 28,500 to 39,350, a 38% increase.
“I understand we're the fastest growing city in the state,” Ditslear added. “I think it's very positive. Obviously, people have found that this is just a great place to live and raise a family and worship and shop.
Dillinger said it's Noblesville's turn for growth.
“This isn't going to be the end of the growth, with Noblesville Corporate Campus going on out east and us building 146th Street out there,” he explained. “Carmel went through it. Fishers went through it. Now I think you'll see Noblesville just explode.”
