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Recession-Resistant Growth:

Location Intelligence Firm Announces the ‘9 from 2009’

Gadberry Group names the nine most notable high-growth areas in the nation from 2009

 

LITTLE ROCK, AR – January 5, 2010 – Gadberry Group today announced its list of last year’s nine most notable high-growth areas in the US – Gadberry Group’s 9 from 2009.

“Compiling the 2009 list was especially interesting as we anticipated the impact of current economic conditions,” said Gadberry Group principal Larry Martin. Headquartered in Little Rock, Gadberry Group provides location intelligence services and data for the world’s top retail brands.

This year’s list averaged household growth of 170% from 2000 to 2009, compared to last year’s list average of 267% for the same period. Martin noted that, in light of current economic challenges, the 2009 list might well include the most resilient areas featured yet.

Texas appears to be bucking national economic trends, capturing four of this year’s nine slots. Industry research indicates that a comparatively stable housing market is likely a contributing factor.

According to Martin, most researchers agree that Census data has been the standard for understanding the distribution and demographic makeup of the U.S. population. “But Census data is more than nine years old, so changes in demographic characteristics can’t be identified or measured accurately using only Census-based estimates,” he added.

The firm uses proprietary products to employ a statistical ranking system that evaluates the 17,000 Census Places. Selection criteria and ranking methodology include percent change, absolute change and emerging Census blocks (those growing from less than 10 households in Census 2000 to over 100 in 2009). The analysis considers total growth from 2000 to 2009, as well as that from 2008 to 2009. Gadberry also weights the analysis using key demographic variables such as ethnicity, household income, net worth, economic stability, length of residence and age.

“The number-one spot went to Braselton, Georgia, whose impressive household growth was only surpassed by its economic strength,” Martin said. “Braselton topped the list with an average household income increase of 67% from 2000 to 2009.”

Many of this year’s finalists repeatedly make the top 25, including: Lehi, UT; Indian Trail, NC; Queen Creek, AZ; Summerlin, NV; Helotes, TX; Frisco, TX; Goodyear, AZ; Brighton, CO; McKinney, TX; Wentzville, MO; Enterprise, NV; and Bluffton, SC.

 

By the Numbers – 9 from 2009

Braselton, Georgia

Located northeast of Atlanta, Braselton has maintained strong growth since 2000. The area has added 7,541 households bringing its current household total to 13,929 – a 118% increase – and has 6 Emerging Blocks.

Even more impressive is Braselton’s growth in household income. Since 2000, average household income grew from $68,102 to $113,664, an average household increase of $45,562. Average household net worth was second among the nine finalists, at $532,628.

“We're ahead of the curve, setting a tone for high quality growth, award winning infrastructure and essential services, without levying a property tax,” said Braselton Mayor Pat Graham. “Our vibrant business community offers an array of amenities for small town living. What a tribute to be on this prestigious list.”

Atascocita, Texas

Atascocita, a nearby neighbor to Humble, Texas, sits on the banks of Lake Houston. Since 2000, households here grew 108%, from 11,475 to 23,917. Average household income grew from $79,054 to $99,272, placing Atascocita third for income growth.

Gadberry’s demographics also revealed that Hispanic households represented the largest growing segment of the population at 278%.

Spring Hill, Tennessee

Households in Spring Hill increased by 183%, from 4,169 in 2000 to 11,814 households in 2009. Spring Hill’s growth has been driven in large part as households moved to the area to fill jobs created by General Motor’s Saturn plant, which located there in 1990.

Average household income growth from 2000 to 2009 put Spring Hill number two in this category, increasing from $64,256 to $92,374, while median income rose from $52,464 in 2000 to $74,648.

Lincoln, California

Lincoln took the number two spot for percentage of household growth from 2000 to 2009 growing from 6,287 in 2000 to 21,997 households in 2008, or 250%. Lincoln boasted the highest average household net worth of the group at $593,668. The area also led the group for average household Economic Stability Index with a rating of 7.8 on a scale of 1-30, with 1 being the most economically stable. Lincoln also had 12 Emerging Blocks.

Lincoln’s Asian households increased more than any other group, growing from 113 in 2000 to 864 in 2009. Among the 16 Asian countries of origin, Indian households were the largest group at 22%.

“Our success in Lincoln’s growth has come through a vision by our city council and citizens of Lincoln, said Steve Art, Economic and Redevelopment manager for the City of Lincoln. “We know we are creating a community where family and quality of life mean something. It’s these traits and qualities, plus the attraction of Placer County and its amenities that I believe helped us to become among the elite on the Gadberry list in 2009.”

Katy, Texas

Katy was one of the Top 25 candidates in 2008 and occupies the number five position in this year’s list. The area is second for absolute household change, adding 15,699 households since 2000, and was third for percent household change, increasing from 6,585 households in 2000 to 22,284 households in 2008, or 238%.

Katy tied with Mansfield for highest percentage of children compared to total population at 42%. It is also the most ethnically diverse of this year’s places, with no ethnic group having less than 6% of total households and all major ethnic groups growing more than 150% since 2000.

Wake Forest, North Carolina

Wake Forest is located northeast of Raleigh and was recognized by Forbes magazine in 2007 as the 20th fastest growing suburb in the US. Wake Forest grew from 8,150 households in 2000 to 17,803 in 2009, or 118%. Wake Forest had 13 Emerging Blocks, the second highest in the group.

Along with Mansfield, Wake Forest saw an overall decrease in median age, dropping from 34.5 in 2000 to 34.1. Average household income for Wake Forest increased from $70,148 to $82,771.

“As a Wake Forest native, I’ve recognized the explosive growth that our community has experienced. The Gadberry data will give us the quantitative tools we need to continue to draw new development to Wake Forest,” said Don Stroud, Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce Board Co-Chair.

Mansfield, Texas

Mansfield is located due south of Arlington and was honored in 2009 by CNN/Money Magazine as one of the "Best Places to Live," ranking 24 out of the top 100 places.

Households grew from 8,492 in 2000 to 17,246 in 2009, or 103%. Mansfield tied for the third position for annual growth from 2008 to 2009, adding 15% to its total households last year.

Wylie, Texas

Wylie earned its number eight position on this year’s list with an impressive 163% household growth, adding 10,310 households to the 7,149 that lived there in 2000. Most of the new households are located in one of Wylie’s eight Emerging Blocks.

Wylie’s Hispanic households grew 289% from 2000 to 2009. Gadberry’s ethnic data indicates that 41% of Hispanic households speak English as their primary language with 56% of Wylie’s Hispanic households are bi-lingual, preferring Spanish as their primary language.

Buckeye, Arizona

Rounding out this year’s list is Buckeye, located in Maricopa County, one of the fastest growing counties of this decade. Buckeye has been recognized for its growth for several years, and was named the 2nd fastest growing municipality in the US by Forbes magazine in 2007.

Buckeye took the number one position in three categories in this year’s list. Many brand new communities have been established since 2000, which explains Buckeye’s 26 Emerging Blocks. Buckeye also ranked first for percent change since 2000 at 261%, growing its households from 5,015 to 18,112. Not surprisingly, Buckeye also was number one for the shortest Average Length of Residence at 4.1years.

Gadberry’s ethnic data also revealed that Buckeye had the largest growth of Asian households of the nine areas. Asian households in Buckeye increased 1957% from 2000, with Vietnamese households representing the largest group at 28% of all Asian households.

“It is extremely exciting to receive this national recognition,” said Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck. “We will use the detailed demographic information provided by The Gadberry Group to bolster our economic development efforts and continue to move Buckeye forward.”

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: TO ACCESS INTERACTIVE MAPS FOR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FOR THE 9 FROM 2009 PLACES,
CLICK HERE .  

About The Gadberry Group

The Gadberry Group provides location-based services and information data products for clients who demand the most current, accurate, and precise household and population data for their site location analysis. MicroBuild®, Gadberry's patent-pending product, is unique because only MicroBuild uses consumer data at the rooftop level to deliver quarterly household and population counts beginning at the Census block level. For more information about Gadberry Group, visit www.gadberry.net .