Appendix I Population

Appendix I

Population and Growth Trends
in the
New River Basin

Appendices

Population and Growth Trends

Below are three different ways of presenting population data for the New River basin. The data
presented by basin allow for 2000 population data to be presented by subbasin. Population data
presented by county allow for analysis of projected growth trends in the basin based on
information from the Office of State Planning (April-May, 2001). Data presented by
municipality summarizes information on past growth of large urban areas in the basin. While the
three different sets of information cannot be directly compared, general conclusions are apparent
by looking at the information. Counties with the highest expected growth are associated with the
largest municipal areas and the most densely populated subbasins in the basin.

Basin Population and Population Density

Information on population density at a watershed scale is useful in determining what streams are
likely to have the most impacts as a result of population growth. This information is also useful
in identifying stream segments that have good opportunities for preservation or restoration. This
information is presented to estimate population and population density by each subbasin and for
the entire basin. It is assumed that county populations are distributed evenly throughout each
county; therefore, subbasins that are within counties with large urban areas may overestimate the
actual population in that portion of the basin. The overall population of the basin based on 2000
Census data is 49,653, with approximately 66 persons/square mile. (See the map of hydrologic
units and population density.) The overall population and persons/square mile is estimated based
on the percent of the county land area that is partially or entirely within the basin.

County Population and Growth Trends

The following table and map show the projected population for 2020 and the change in growth
between 1990 and 2020 for counties that are partially or entirely contained within the basin.
Since river basin boundaries do not coincide with county boundaries, these numbers are not
directly applicable to the New River basin. This information is intended to present an estimate
of expected population growth in counties that have some land area in the New River basin. For
more information on past, current and projected population estimates, contact the Office of State
Planning at [phone] or visit their website at http://demog.state.nc.us.

County
Percent of
County in
Basin ♦
County
Population
1990
County
Population
2000
Estimated %
Growth
1990-2000
Estimated
Population
2020
Estimated %
Growth
2000-2020
Alleghany 91 9,590 10,677 10.2 12,140 12.1
Ashe 99 22,209 24,384 8.92 27,299 10.7
Watauga 37 36,952 42,695 13.5 51,567 17.2
Subtotals 68,751 77,756 11.6 91,006 14.6
♦ Source: North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (CGIA), 1997.
Note: The numbers reported reflect county population; however, these counties are not entirely within the basin.
The intent is to demonstrate growth for counties located wholly or partially within the basin.

A-I-1

Municipal Population and Growth Trends

The table below presents population data from Office of State Planning for municipalities
located partially or entirely in the basin. These data represent six municipalities in the basin.

Municipality County April
1980
April
1990
April
2000
Percent Change
(1980-1990)
Percent Change
(1990-2000)
Blowing Rock ● Caldwell, Watauga 1,337 1,263 1,418 -5.5 12.3
Boone ● Watauga 10,191 12,949 13,472 27.1 4.0
Jefferson Ashe 1,086 1,300 1,422 19.7 9.4
Lansing Ashe 194 171 151 -11.9 -11.7
Sparta Alleghany 1,687 1,957 1,817 16.0 -7.2
West Jefferson Ashe 822 1,002 1,081 21.9 7.9
• - The numbers reported reflect municipality population; however, these municipalities are not entirely within the basin.
The intent is to demonstrate growth for municipalities located wholly or partially within the basin.
A-I-2