Did Wake pass Mecklenburg in July 2009? (Charlotte, Raleigh: unemployment rate, schools, university)

[rnc2mbfl]

According to the State of NC Office of State Budget and Management, Wake County was projected to pass Mecklenburg in population this past July. I hadn't heard about this previously and thought it was interesting enough to share and discuss. I looked through other data sets from their web site and they clearly show Wake blowing past Mecklenburg and not looking back over the next decade +. I guess it was inevitable since Wake has more land then Mecklenburg. What does it mean to NC now that its most populated county doesn't surround Charlotte? I am sure this will bring a lively discussion.
SAS Output
Population Estimates and Projections | NC | OSBM

[SunnyKayak]

It might not be good for clt realtors but I say I want Wake to have them.
I saw the U2 thread and that was the perfect example of to many people.

[urbancharlotte]

LOL!!! This is a cute thread. It is kinda like Charlotte (more land than Atlanta) bragging about having a more populated city than Atlanta. How cute! And Jacksonville is more populated than Miami. And Columbus is more populated than Cleveland. And LA county is more populated than NYC. Honestly, I could go on for days.

My point is that "big city" recognition won't be coming to Raleigh ANYTIME soon. Charlotte has got that state title locked. Besides, Charlotte's core counties has added more folks since the 2000 census than Raleigh's core counties (and our core counties did it with less land than Raleigh's core counties). You should know me well Mr. OP. Therefore you know that have the data to back up my claims. Metro Charlotte is growing more densely than metro Raleigh. You guys just have larger counties (land area) up there that tends to skew the numbers a bit. When the county size advantage is taken away from Raleigh, you will see that metro Charlotte has added more folks in a smaller land area than Raleigh (and has been doing so since 1980). Wake growing past Mecklenburg is nothing more than a Jacksonville/Miami situation. I would not read too much into that at all. Once Wake's population surpasses Wake's infrastructure (it won't be long) Wake's population growth will drop like a rock. The recent drop in school enrollment growth for both Meck and Wake is proof that the core county growth for these two is NOT what it used to be. This is not a bad thing for Charlotte, because Meck is closing in on 2,000 people per sq/mi density. However, this is sad news for Wake (a county that has "slightly above" 1,000 people per sq/mi density). If Wake fails at becoming as dense as Meck is now, how will Raleigh justify light rail? How would Raleigh justify a finished I-540? How can Raleigh justify building an expensive "big city" downtown for the folks of Wake to enjoy? My point is, Charlotte is currently sitting on the density that makes these things feasible. Raleigh is not (and thanks to the recession, Raleigh may not reach the county density of Meck for quite some time).

Also, thanks to "the Durham effect", Raleigh has got to get its MSA population up before Raleigh is on Charlotte's level. In other words, Raleigh will need to have a CSA that is larger than Charlotte's CSA before Raleigh and Charlotte are considered "equal cities". Durham artificially inflates Raleigh's CSA beyond what Raleigh actually is (as a city). However, Raleigh's MSA is not adding as many folks as Charlotte's (and Raleigh's fastest growing core counties has more land than Charlotte's fastest growing core counties). Clearly, Charlotte is "winning" where it counts. If you don't understand OP, let me know. I will be more than happy to show you my data and the population growth of both core metros since the 2000 census.

[Francois]

I don't know why it's considered a "good thing" to be the most populous, crowded county! More traffic? No thank you. send 'em to Charlotte! And urbancharlotte is correct that Charlotte is still way ahead as a "big city", regardless of the county populations. Wake's growth is all suburban, chiefly in the Southwest. When that's jam-packed, they'll start spilling down into Harnett and Lee, I guess.

[rnc2mbfl]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

LOL!!! This is a cute thread. It is kinda like Charlotte (more land than Atlanta) bragging about having a more populated city than Atlanta. How cute! And Jacksonville is more populated than Miami. And Columbus is more populated than Cleveland. And LA county is more populated than NYC. Honestly, I could go on for days.

My point is that "big city" recognition won't be coming to Raleigh ANYTIME soon. Charlotte has got that state title locked. Besides, Charlotte's core counties has added more folks since the 2000 census than Raleigh's core counties (and our core counties did it with less land than Raleigh's core counties). You should know me well Mr. OP. Therefore you know that have the data to back up my claims. Metro Charlotte is growing more densely than metro Raleigh. You guys just have larger counties (land area) up there that tends to skew the numbers a bit. When the county size advantage is taken away from Raleigh, you will see that metro Charlotte has added more folks in a smaller land area than Raleigh (and has been doing so since 1980). Wake growing past Mecklenburg is nothing more than a Jacksonville/Miami situation. I would not read too much into that at all. Once Wake's population surpasses Wake's infrastructure (it won't be long) Wake's population growth will drop like a rock. The recent drop in school enrollment growth for both Meck and Wake is proof that the core county growth for these two is NOT what it used to be. This is not a bad thing for Charlotte, because Meck is closing in on 2,000 people per sq/mi density. However, this is sad news for Wake (a county that has "slightly above" 1,000 people per sq/mi density). If Wake fails at becoming as dense as Meck is now, how will Raleigh justify light rail? How would Raleigh justify a finished I-540? How can Raleigh justify building an expensive "big city" downtown for the folks of Wake to enjoy? My point is, Charlotte is currently sitting on the density that makes these things feasible. Raleigh is not (and thanks to the recession, Raleigh may not reach the county density of Meck for quite some time).

Also, thanks to "the Durham effect", Raleigh has got to get its MSA population up before Raleigh is on Charlotte's level. In other words, Raleigh will need to have a CSA that is larger than Charlotte's CSA before Raleigh and Charlotte are considered "equal cities". Durham artificially inflates Raleigh's CSA beyond what Raleigh actually is (as a city). However, Raleigh's MSA is not adding as many folks as Charlotte's (and Raleigh's fastest growing core counties has more land than Charlotte's fastest growing core counties). Clearly, Charlotte is "winning" where it counts. If you don't understand OP, let me know. I will be more than happy to show you my data and the population growth of both core metros since the 2000 census.

I started this thread just to see you desperately rant on and on and on in order to "prove" Charlotte's "superiority". Thanks for making my day. BTW, this is about the county populatons: not the cities. Oh, but while were are at it, it's a FACT that Charlotte's density within its total city limits is LESS dense than both Raleigh and Cary. Bend the facts any way you want but that's the truth. So, give it a rest already about how Raleigh and the rest of Wake County will never be what Charlotte and Mecklenburg are.
It's true that Wake County has more land but it also has a lot of it that's undeveloped. It also has a huge state park in it and a large resevoir and watershed. You have no authority to make assumptions about what Wake County and its municipalities will do going forward. So, do us a favor and please stop acting like you do.
Raleigh will take care of its business and Charlotte will take care of theirs.

[metro.m]

Originally Posted by rnc2mbfl

I started this thread just to see you desperately rant on and on and on in order to "prove" Charlotte's "superiority". Thanks for making my day. BTW, this is about the county populatons: not the cities. Oh, but while were are at it, it's a FACT that Charlotte's density within its total city limits is LESS dense than both Raleigh and Cary. Bend the facts any way you want but that's the truth. So, give it a rest already about how Raleigh and the rest of Wake County will never be what Charlotte and Mecklenburg are.
It's true that Wake County has more land but it also has a lot of it that's undeveloped. It also has a huge state park in it and a large resevoir and watershed. You have no authority to make assumptions about what Wake County and its municipalities will do going forward. So, do us a favor and please stop acting like you do.
Raleigh will take care of its business and Charlotte will take care of theirs.

Exactly...

I travel through northern Wake county twice a week, there is absolutely nothing there. I think most of the land up there is environmentally protected. Almost all of the population in Wake county immediately surrounds Raleigh, and spills off into Durham and Johnston counties. Mecklenburg is still a larger county, but not by much.

BTW. Charlotte is the largest city in NC. Hopefully that will make some insecure people feel happy.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by rnc2mbfl

I started this thread just to see you desperately rant on and on and on in order to "prove" Charlotte's "superiority". Thanks for making my day. BTW, this is about the county populatons: not the cities. Oh, but while were are at it, it's a FACT that Charlotte's density within its total city limits is LESS dense than both Raleigh and Cary. Bend the facts any way you want but that's the truth. So, give it a rest already about how Raleigh and the rest of Wake County will never be what Charlotte and Mecklenburg are.
It's true that Wake County has more land but it also has a lot of it that's undeveloped. It also has a huge state park in it and a large resevoir and watershed. You have no authority to make assumptions about what Wake County and its municipalities will do going forward. So, do us a favor and please stop acting like you do.
Raleigh will take care of its business and Charlotte will take care of theirs.

Um, I think you are taking this forum stuff waaaaaay too seriously. I was perfectly fine debating Charlotte's skyline against cities like Baltimore and Indianapolis on the US general forum. YOU started this thread (let's not forget that).

Check my user name. I have NEVER started a Charlotte/Raleigh thread. FWIW, Francois said it best:

Originally Posted by Francois

I don't know why it's considered a "good thing" to be the most populous, crowded county! More traffic? No thank you. send 'em to Charlotte! And urbancharlotte is correct that Charlotte is still way ahead as a "big city", regardless of the county populations. Wake's growth is all suburban, chiefly in the Southwest. When that's jam-packed, they'll start spilling down into Harnett and Lee, I guess.

With that said, what in the World are we debating?

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by rnc2mbfl

I started this thread just to see you desperately rant on and on and on in order to "prove" Charlotte's "superiority". Thanks for making my day. BTW, this is about the county populatons: not the cities. Oh, but while were are at it, it's a FACT that Charlotte's density within its total city limits is LESS dense than both Raleigh and Cary. Bend the facts any way you want but that's the truth. So, give it a rest already about how Raleigh and the rest of Wake County will never be what Charlotte and Mecklenburg are.
It's true that Wake County has more land but it also has a lot of it that's undeveloped. It also has a huge state park in it and a large resevoir and watershed. You have no authority to make assumptions about what Wake County and its municipalities will do going forward. So, do us a favor and please stop acting like you do.
Raleigh will take care of its business and Charlotte will take care of theirs.

Yup, he fell for it hook line and sinker. Same old canned response with irrelevant stats. This is a thread about county population right?

Don't blame him though, he is still realing from Charlotte falling off the list of "youth magnet cities":

Charlotte officially falls off the map | Charlotte | News | Citizen Servatius

It has been a rough couple of days for him.

[Tarheelhombre]

It's not just that Wake County's population has or is about to surpass Mecklenburg's. It's also that Mecklenburg County Schools' enrollment DECREASED this year, not just its growth rate. Wake County Schools' enrollment continues to increase. It's also that Mecklenburg County and the Charlotte region have a much bleaker economic picture than Raleigh-Durham. Unemployment rates are much higher throughout the textile and banking Charlotte region, than the tech and university centered Raleigh-Durham. And then, there is image. National ranking after national ranking continues to give high-profile accolades to Raleigh-Durham, with the latest crowning Raleigh America's Smartest City. Raleigh-Durham just was recognized as a Mecca City for Young Adults, and one of the best Sports Cities. Culturally, Raleigh-Durham is perceived as hip, modern, progressive, young, well-educated, and exciting, whereas Charlotte is viewed nationally as socially regressive, anti-gay, religiously conservative, NASCAR hub, and economically depressed. I think Raleigh-Durham will continue to shine because it has huge numbers of the coveted Creative Class, which drives a good national image and more jobs for well-educated and hip people.

[metro.m]

Originally Posted by North_Raleigh_Guy

Yup, he fell for it hook line and sinker. Same old canned response with irrelevant stats. This is a thread about county population right?

Don't blame him though, he is still realing from Charlotte falling off the list of "youth magnet cities":

Charlotte officially falls off the map | Charlotte | News | Citizen Servatius

It has been a rough couple of days for him.

Like I've said many times over, this guy is a Raleigh troll. I have reasonable suspicion he posts on many other city oriented message boards posting the same Raleigh bashing comments. Can you say weird?