
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 4, 1995                   TAG: 9503070002
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE SHAPE OF GROWTH

The region's population growth is uneven. Some far-flung rural communities are losing population. Instead, the population growth is concentrated within several key hotspots - generally within commuting distance of Roanoke or Blacksburg, or along Smith Mountain Lake.

Smith Mountain Lake

More than 2,460 people found new homes on the Franklin side of the lake, an increase of 47 percent. On the Bedford side, more than 1,700 people moved in, a population boom of 43 percent.

Stewartsville-Chamblissburg-Hardy

More than 3,700 moved into this corner of Bedford County, racheting up its population by 41 percent.

Bonsack-Blue Ridge

Almost 2,000 people moved into the U.S. 460 corridor along the Roanoke County-Botetourt County line, boosting the neighborhood's population by 20 percent.

Troutville-Cloverdale-Daleville

Almost 1,600 people have moved into this part of southern Botetourt County, increasing the community's size by 13 percent.

Price's Fork-Mount Tabor

Not only has Blacksburg boomed, so has the countryside around it. More than 2,200 people moved into this part of rural Montgomery County, a population surge of 30 percent.

Forest

Lynchburg's suburbs are pushing well out into eastern Bedford County. More than 2,700 people have moved in, an increase of 43 percent.

HOMEBUILDING

Since the 1990 census was taken, here's how many homes have been built in each locality - or, at least, how many homebuilding permits were issued:

Bedford County: 9,905

Roanoke County: 9,051

Franklin County: 6,050

Montgomery County: 1,504

Botetourt County: 1,267

Floyd County: 1,007

Craig County: 348

Pulaski County: 251

by CNB