Area population growing, but slowly, feds say

New rooftops continued to spring out of the soil in communities throughout Kane County last year.

But the rate at which they grew slowed considerably, according to the latest round of population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

This week, the Bureau released its 2008 population estimates for every city, village and town in the country. The estimates were based on a formula that considered certain trends, including how many building permits were issued.

Sugar Grove remained the fastest growing community in central and southern Kane County, adding residents at a 2.9 percent clip from 2007 to 2008, the Census Bureau estimated. Overall, the Bureau said it believes Sugar Grove added 275 residents, growing from 9,370 residents to 9,645.

However, the growth rate was a far cry from previous years. From 2006 to 2007 and from 2005 to 2006, for instance, Sugar Grove grew about 6 percent. Earlier this decade, the village had grown year-to-year by as much as 21 percent, Census Bureau estimates show.

Sugar Grove Village Administrator Brent Eichelberger said he believes the estimates to be accurate. He noted that in 2007, the village conducted a special census, showing the village’s population to be 8,848, very close to the Census Bureau’s 2006 estimate of 8,842.

Elsewhere in the region, growth also slowed in Elburn. There, the village recorded 2.3 percent growth from 2007 to 2008, growing from 5,157 to 5,276. That marked a considerable decline from previous years, as well. From 2006 to 2007, for instance, Elburn had grown by 7.2 percent. And from 2005 to 2006, that village had added residents at an 11.3 percent clip.

Growth was even slower elsewhere in the region.

In the Tri-Cities, Batavia added 414 residents, growing by 1.5 percent from 27,088 in 2007 to 27,502 in 2008; Geneva added 285 residents, growing by 1.2 percent from 24,017 to 24,302; and St. Charles added just 58 new residents, growing by 0.1 percent from 32,771 to 32,829, the Census Bureau estimated.

South Elgin grew from 20,833 to 21,131. North Aurora grew from 15,582 to 15,812. And Maple Park grew from 1,251 people to 1,290, the Census Bureau said.

Aurora remained the county’s largest city, growing by 1.2 percent to 171,782. Elgin also gained more residents, growing by 2.6 percent to 106,330.

In Sugar Grove, Eichelberger said the population estimates have little worth beyond tracking population trends and helping to attract more new stores and restaurants.

“From a retailer’s standpoint, population numbers are very important,” Eicherlberger said. “And that’s why we’re always looking for these kinds of numbers.”