County growth rate rising

One new school will soon be under construction, and another could follow within the next few years, and new homes are continuing to be built.

Johnson County is continuing to grow. In fact, the county ranked fifth in the state for the number of people moving into the county, versus the number moving out, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

That’s more than any other county in central Indiana, according to the data, which looked at one representative year between 2011 and 2015.

What that shows is that the county continues to be an attractive place that families want to move into, economist Morton Marcus said.

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But with that increase in population also comes a larger demand on government services, including more students in schools and more traffic on the roads, Marcus said.

Through July of this year, 355 building permits were issued, an increase of 19 percent compared to the same time last year. Multiple new subdivisions are either proposed or starting, especially in an area off County Road 144 in Bargersville where permits are being issued for the new Saddle Club neighborhood, and several others are adding on to existing sections, including Millstone off Whiteland Road and Woodfield off Honey Creek Road, according to plans filed with local governments.

The increase in homes drives more students to local schools. Center Grove schools is building a new 800-student elementary school off Morgantown Road, making room for the population growth in the southern portion of White River Township. And Clark-Pleasant also is looking at adding another elementary school, which would make room for students from families moving into the east side of the county.

Johnson County’s population has steadily grown year after year, with the county ranking among the top fastest growing counties in central Indiana.

But this recent data shows that the county is not only growing from families that are expanding, but also from new residents moving in.

Johnson County was the only central Indiana county on the list, coming in at No. 5, which is above both Hamilton and Hendricks counties which have traditionally grown faster in population.

Part of the draw is the convenient access to interstates, such as Interstate 65 and Interstate 74 in nearly Shelby County, Marcus said. State Road 37 also traverses the west side of the county, which is the planned route for the future Interstate 69, connecting Evansville to Indianapolis.

But the southside is also attractive because of the lower priced — but not cheap — homes that Johnson County has to offer, Marcus said. That was especially important in the time period the data reflects — 2011 through 2015 — which was just after the recession and housing downturn, when buyers were significantly more price conscious, Marcus said.

“Housing has traditionally been less expensive in Johnson County, which also makes it more attractive,” Marcus said.

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Here is a look at the top five counties in the state for the gain in people moving in, versus moving out:

1. Monroe County

Moving in;18,466

Moving out;11,830

Gain;6,636

2. Tippecanoe County

Moving in;16,639

Moving out;11,579

Gain;5,060

3. LaPorte County

Moving in;8,362

Moving out;4,875

Gain;3,487

4. Delaware County

Moving in;11,585

Moving out;8,216

Gain;3,369

5. Johnson County

Moving in;11,243

Moving out;9,425

Gain;1,818

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau

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