Clarksville/HOPKINSVILLE metro area is TENTH FASTEST GROWNING in U.S. (Bowling Green: sales, 2010)

[watchmanonthewall]

Dateline 3-27-08


The Clarksville, Tennessee - Hopkinsville, Kentucky metro was the TENTH FASTEST GROWING METRO IN THE U.S.


US Census Press Releases

[bw87a]

kinda wondering why this area is growing so fast. there is really no interstate access or much else. it is strictly base growth or what?

[BLS2753]

Fort Campbell, and the increased personel build-up surrounding the Iraq War have alot to do with it.

Take the Army post away, and the population and economy go in the dumper.

I saw it happen with the closure of Air Force SAC bases during the Cold War drawdown in the early '90's. The adjacent towns become economically deperessed Mayberry's in a hurry.

[BLS2753]

I-24 runs a few miles from both Hopkinsville and Clarksville. It moreless bisects the distance between the two. It's very accessible. Nashville about 40 miles, St. Louis and Atlanta about 4 hours north or south.

[censusdata]

It is because many Ft Campbell troops are now coming back from Iraq. Places with a large military presence are prone to huge population swings as soldiers also count in the census

[Carter]

Most Fort Campbell troops are currently deployed on a 15 month rotation. So, that's not attributing to the growth in the area. Moreover, their deployment has no determinant on census estimates unless they change their residence/ state of record.

I'd suspect the following are attributing to growth in this area:

1) Many Nashville workers are choosing to live further North in Clarksville where they can enjoy lower cost of living AND close proximity to Kentucky for lower sales tax.
2) Many military retirees are choosing to stay in the area because of climate, low cost of living, and close proximity to VA hospital and Fort Campbell. This causes exponential growth potential.
3) Baby Boomers from higher cost of living areas find the area attractive
4) Industrial Park in Hopkinsville continues to be solid due to efforts of local Econ Dev Council...therefore more move into area for jobs...

These are my opinions but I think they're very true...

[BLS2753]

The active duty military not contributing to the population, has little to do with it. Fort Campbell is the reason for the area's growth and prosperity. Put Fort Campbell adjacent to Bowling Green, Paducah, Madisonville, whatever, you'd see the same thing.

[censusdata]

As someone who plans on working for the census after college, I simply do not understand how estimates went from Christian Co being THE fastest SHRINKING county to one of the FASTEST growing. Last year showed Christian Co had lost 6,000; now a gain of 8,000????

I used to get excited about the estimates coming out, but now they are nothing but a joke. Wake me up for the 2010 official census numbers

[kentuckydad95]

How Hoptown got lumped in with Clarksville is beyond me. Clarksville is responsible for ALL of the growth. Hoptown is piggybacking off of Clarksville's success.

[Davart]

Originally Posted by kentuckydad95

How Hoptown got lumped in with Clarksville is beyond me. Clarksville is responsible for ALL of the growth. Hoptown is piggybacking off of Clarksville's success.

Yep the report says Clarksville and doesn't list Hopkinsville at all, it's not like they are joined there is many miles of open land between them.