Brooklyn Boro

Brooklyn one of fastest-growing counties in NY-NJ metro area

March 28, 2014 By Raanan Geberer Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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The U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday on where the heaviest population growth in the New York-Newark-Jersey City Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was concentrated last year.

While the fastest-growing county between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013, was Hudson County, N.J. whose population rose 1.1 percent over the period, Kings County was the second, showing 0.9 percent growth. Hudson County includes Hoboken, Union City and Jersey City.

“Kings County actually slowed down  this year – it grew 1.08 percent from 2011 to 2012, and 1.25 percent from 2010 to 2011,” said Ben Bollender, demographer with the Census Bureau.

There was one area in which Kings County was definitely number one —  numerical growth, Brooklyn added 23,714 people over the one-year period, more than any other county in the MSA. It was followed by Queens County, which grew by 20,286 people.

Brooklyn also remained the most populous county in the New York-Newark-Jersey City MSA, with 2,592,149 residents.

This particular study didn’t contain any data on the makeup of the new residents, such as income, age, ethnic background or other variables. “The study’s job is showing how, not why,” Bollinger remarked. However, demographic information is contained in several other Census Bureau surveys, such as the American Population Survey.

While no reasons for the growth of population in Brooklyn were given, possible reasons include the growth of the high-tech industry; the growth of areas like Bushwick and Williamsburg as artistic centers; and the new condos that are being built in Williamsburg, DUMBO and Downtown Brooklyn.

This information is based on annual population estimates for each of the nation’s counties, county equivalents, metropolitan areas and micropolitan areas since the 2010 Census and up to July 1, 2013. Internet tables are available showing rankings and components of population change (births, deaths, migration).

Bollinger remarked that Brooklyn has been growing since the 2002-2006 period, when the after-effects of 9/11 gave rise to a slowdown across the metropolitan area.

Later this year, data will be available from the County Business Patterns survey, which provides the economic side of the story. Annual statistics will be released on the number of establishments, employees and annual payroll for nearly 1,200 industries at the national, state and county levels.

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