Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 28, 1993 TAG: 9305280173
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's the projected population trend in the Fifth Planning District in the next two decades.
The district's population is expected to increase by less than 1 percent in the next 20 years, continuing the slow growth of the past decade.
Roanoke, Salem, Clifton Forge and Covington are projected to lose population. But growth in Roanoke County and Botetourt County is expected to offset the losses.
In 1990, the nine localities in the planning district had a population of 253,807. The projected population is 254,624 by the year 2000, and 255,641 by 2010.
"Essentially we will have no growth" in the next two decades, said Wayne Strickland, executive director of the Fifth Planning District Commission.
Debbie Kendall, a planner for the agency, told commission members Thursday that the slow growth in the region contrasts sharply with projections for Northern Virginia and other areas in the state.
Although the district's population will remain flat, Kendall said, there are shifts that reflect national trends. People are moving from cities to the suburbs, he said.
"People seem to want to move into the country," she said.
Roanoke's population is projected to go from 96,509 to 90,597 by 2010. Salem's population will decrease from 23,756 to 23,194.
On the other hand, Roanoke County's population is expected to increase from 79,332 to 87,424.
Kendall said the population projections are based on data gathered by the Virginia Employment Commission.
Thursday, Katherine Imhoff, executive director of the Virginia Commission on Population Growth and Development, briefed the planners on proposed legislation to set a growth policy for the state.
She said the draft legislation is designed to promote economic and orderly growth.
The commission also approved a $472,900 budget for the next fiscal year. The budget is down by 7.2 percent because the agency has completed work on two State Water Control Board grants, two Center on Rural Development grants and a community development grant for Craig County.
The new budget includes money for a 2.5 percent cost-of-living raise for the employees and $5,000 for merit raises at the executive director's discretion.
by CNB