THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 26, 1996 TAG: 9601240128
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Chesapeake's population increased by about 4,253 persons in 1995, according to recent population estimates by the Chesapeake Department of Planning. That brings the city's population to about 187,204 residents.
The growth shows a 2.32 percent increase over the Jan. 1, 1995, population estimate of 182,951.
``Nineteen ninety-five was an extremely heavy year for growth. One of the heaviest we've had in the city,'' said Karen E. Shaffer, assistant planning director.
Although 1995 added some 4,000 new residents and approximately 1,544 new dwelling units to the city, last year's growth is still down from the 1994 population boom.
``In 1994 we added some 2,704 additional dwelling units and 7,450 new residents,'' said Shaffer. ``Most of the growth in '94 was attributed to new apartment buildings. They make the numbers go up.''
The city calculates population growth first by determining the number of new dwelling units, which include single-family homes, apartment units, mobile home developments and multifamily homes. Then the city assumes a vacancy rate and an average of 2.87 persons per dwelling, which is based on 1990 U.S. Census average household size.
``The city has a 4 percent vacancy rate on new dwellings, which means 4 percent of the new units are not presently inhabited,'' said Shaffer. The vacancy rate is determined by city utility companies, Shaffer added. ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
Camelot - 1995, 8,152; 1996, 8,182; percentage of total
population, 4.37 percent.
Deep Creek - 1995, 20,681; 1996, 20,912; percentage of total
population, 11.17 percent.
Great Bridge - 1995, 35,911; 1996, 36,991; percentage of total
population, 19.76 percent.
Greenbrier - 1995, 18,649; 1996, 19,136; percentage of total
population, 10.22 percent.
Indian River - 1995, 20,127; 1996, 20,155; percentage of total
population, 10.77 percent.
Rivercrest - 1995, 16,182; 1996, 16,942; percentage of total
population, 9.05 percent.
South Chesapeake - 1995, 11,126; 1996, 11,352; percentage of
total population, 6.06 percent.
South Norfolk - 1995, 25,852; 1996, 26,042; percentage of total
population, 13.91 percent.
Western Branch - 1995, 26,271; 1996, 27,494; percentage of total
population, 14.69 percent.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE POPULATION by CNB