By Staff
Leada DeVaney, Hartselle Enquirer
Watch out Huntsville, Hartselle is nipping at your heels.
According to the US Census Bureau, Hartselle is Alabama's 18th fastest growing city. That ranking puts it behind Huntsville in neighboring Madison County on the list of fastest-growing municipalities.
Hartselle's population is now 12,557. That's up from last year's total of 12,299 and up from the 2000 Census figure of 12,019.
Hartselle's growth rate in the last year is 3.3 percent.
The state's fastest growing cities were Pelham, Calera and Madison.
Hartselle's numbers helped Morgan County earn an 18th place in the rankings of Alabama's fastest-growing counties. Morgan County's population is now 112,610, up 1.4 percent from last year. Shelby County is the state's fastest growing.
Decatur's population increased .05 percent from last year, making it the state's 30th fastest growing city. Decatur's population is 54,239.
Priceville also showed growth in the last year, with its current population at 2,001. That's up from 1,855 in 2002 and 1,631 in 2000.
Somerville's population showed slow increase, with 349 people in 2003, compared to 348 in 2002 and 347 in 2001.
Falkville showed a decline in population from 2000. Falkville's population is shown as 1,168, up one from 2002's figure of 1,167 but down from the 2000 Census number of 1,202.
This latest population information comes from data collected in July 2003. It shows strong growth in bedroom communities near major cities, but decline in more urban areas.
Of the state's four major cities – Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery and Huntsville – only Huntsville showed population growth in the last year.