Land Use Plan – 2002 - Stanly County, North Carolina

STANLY COUNTY
When compared to other surrounding counties, the counties to the north and west all have
higher population densities as well as greater percent increases. For the sake of comparison,
Cabarrus County had in 2000 a population density of 359.7 persons per square mile. The county
experienced a 32.5 percent increase in density between 1990 and 2000. Union County, which
began the 1990s with a population density similar to Stanly County’s 2000 population density,
grew 46.9 percent to a population density of 194.0 persons per square mile.
Rowan County, located immediately to the north of Stanly County, had a 2000 population density
of 254.9 persons per square mile and experienced a 17.9 percent increase in that density
between 1990 and 2000. Davidson County grew at a similar rate over the same time period.
Anson and Montgomery are the only surrounding Counties that have lower population densities
than Stanly County. Each has a population density about one-third that of Stanly County. Overall
this population density analysis indicated that Stanly County lies at the crossroads of a rapidlydeveloped
and expanding urban area to the west, and a more-rural area to the east. Looking
ahead, Stanly can learn from the communities to its west of what can be in store for them as the
Charlotte metropolitan area grows toward Stanly County.
Table 2-9 provides a summary of household statistics for Stanly County and the state of North
Carolina. The total number of households in Stanly County increased 12.5 percent from 1990 to
2000. For this period, an additional 2,476 new households were established within the county.
This growth rate, although somewhat reduced from the 13.6 percent growth rate for the county
for the 1980 to 1990 timeframe, mirrors both the county’s continued population growth and
gradual reduction in household size discussed later in this report.
For the 1990-2000 time period, the number of households in the state of North Carolina grew
24.4 percent to a total of 3,132,013 households according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Table 2-9. Households, Stanly County and State of North Carolina, 1980-2000.
Place 1980 1990
Percent
Change
1980-1990 2000
Percent
Change
1990-2000
Stanly County 17,378 19,747 13.6 22,223 12.5
North Carolina 2,043,291 2,517,026 23.2 3,132,013 24.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980, 1990, and 2000.
The mean persons per household in Stanly County decreased from 1990 to 2000 to 2.53
persons per household. As indicated in Table 2-10, this trend is in keeping with a state trend of
household sizes getting smaller. Figures for the state of North Carolina decreased at a slightly
faster rate—2.0 percent—compared to the county rate of 1.6 percent. As a result, Stanly
County’s 1990 persons per household rate is slightly higher than the state average.
Table 2-10. Mean Persons Per Household, Stanly
County and State of North Carolina, 1980-2000.
Place 1980 1990
Percent
Change
1980-1990 2000
Percent
Change
1990-2000
Stanly County 2.73 2.57 -5.9 2.53 -1.6
North Carolina 2.78 2.54 -8.6 2.49 -2.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1980, 1990, and 2000.
Land Use Plan 2-7 6/02