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Just a sidenote:
To Mutiny77, meant to rate your post positively! I hit the button beside the quote button with the paper icon and plus sign, because I thought it mean rate positively. Then I saw the rate positively button. My mistake! Regardless, I still rated it positively once I saw the button for it!
Doubt it. Asheville likes being what it is, and a place with breakneck job and population growth ain't it.
I terms of growth percentages, it seems like Wilmington qualifies.
Greensboro and Winston-Salem have what it takes, but it remains to be seen if they will become modern-day boomtowns a la Charlotte and the Triangle.
Asheville % wise grew faster then Greensboro between 2000-2010. I think Greensboro and Winston might have trouble. Having lived in Greensboro for quite some time, while it is a nice city it is kind of sprawling and somewhat stuck in a rut economically. Granted though if Greensboro can build its image as an education center, which it is, and shed some of its perception as a textile/tobacco/manufacturing town, it could really take off, but I think that is key.
Basically, while Asheville may like what it is I think it will attract a fair amount of people just based on its desirability, and reasonable COL. It would not surprise me if Asheville increasingly was "discovered" as a destination particularly for people who enjoy the outdoors and have jobs that they can work from wherever. Basically, I think Asheville could benefit from the same migration patterns that are helping out towns and cities in places like Western Montana. E.g. people with flexible jobs moving away from large coastal urban centers e.g. Seattle and San Francisco for cheaper yet "cool" cities with outdoor opportunities.
Last edited by Randomstudent; 04-14-2013 at 11:56 PM..
Basically, while Asheville may like what it is I think it will attract a fair amount of people just based on its desirability, and reasonable COL. It would not surprise me if Asheville increasingly was "discovered" as a destination particularly for people who enjoy the outdoors and have jobs that they can work from wherever. Basically, I think Asheville could benefit from the same migration patterns that are helping out towns and cities in places like Western Montana. E.g. people with flexible jobs moving away from large coastal urban centers e.g. Seattle and San Francisco for cheaper yet "cool" cities with outdoor opportunities.
And that's what will preclude Asheville from becoming a boomtown, IMO. Boomtowns have to provide lots of jobs that can be snapped up by transplants fairly easily and that pay a livable wage from the outset. Due to the relative lack of industry in Asheville, wages are depressed and people like college grads or mid-level professionals have tough times making a go of it. Asheville might register higher growth levels doing what it's currently doing but it won't become a boomtown.
And that's what will preclude Asheville from becoming a boomtown, IMO. Boomtowns have to provide lots of jobs that can be snapped up by transplants fairly easily and that pay a livable wage from the outset. Due to the relative lack of industry in Asheville, wages are depressed and people like college grads or mid-level professionals have tough times making a go of it. Asheville might register higher growth levels doing what it's currently doing but it won't become a boomtown.
If that is what your going on Greensboro is further from being a boomtown. Guilford County has much higher unemployment then Buncombe. In fact, Asheville has some of the lowest unemployment in the state.
If that is what your going on Greensboro is further from being a boomtown. Guilford County has much higher unemployment then Buncombe. In fact, Asheville has some of the lowest unemployment in the state.
Unemployment rate alone doesn't tell the whole story; without even checking the stats, I'm sure Mecklenburg and Wake also have higher unemployment. And I don't know the history behind Greensboro's unemployment numbers, whether it's more so recession-related or not, but it has a much broader industrial and educational base, as well as more developed infrastructure and a good location, to build on in terms of developing the elements necessary to become a "boomtown." Realistically though, it might register an uptick in terms of growth in the near future but won't see Charlotte- or Triangle-like growth anytime soon.
For smaller sized cities, Wilmington and Greenville are growing and expanding very nicely. In just the last 4 years, Greenville's city proper population has surpassed Jacksonville, and Asheville. Housing the third largest university in the state and with its rapidly growing healthcare center, I think it will continue to grow for a while.
For smaller sized cities, Wilmington and Greenville are growing and expanding very nicely. In just the last 4 years, Greenville's city proper population has surpassed Jacksonville, and Asheville. Housing the third largest university in the state and with its rapidly growing healthcare center, I think it will continue to grow for a while.
East Carolina could do big things for Greenville, I just don't think Greenville realizes it's potential.
Greensboro and Winston-Salem have what it takes, but it remains to be seen if they
will become modern-day boomtowns a la Charlotte and the Triangle.
Let's hope not.
A few thousand good solid jobs with benefits? You bet.
A few thousand at the very bottom finding *something* to do? No doubt.
Boom town growth? No thanks.
A few thousand good solid jobs with benefits? You bet.
A few thousand at the very bottom finding *something* to do? No doubt.
Boom town growth? No thanks.
Well the first two aren't going to come until the third does.
Well the first two aren't going to come until the third does.
If that's true (it isn't).... then the focus should be on de-populating some of these places.
The added infrastructure load of a boom isn't worth having those jobs <--The Point.
Pre-coffee mulling:
At present, Forsyth Co has 358,000; excluding the kids and retiree's (about 44% per census)
the total 8.8% unemployed comes to less than 20,000. But allowing the first 4% of unemployment
that is never solved (a "healthy" economy) leaves about 9600 (2.7% of 358,000) that need a job
or need luggage.
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