11/26/03
By THOMAS R. TINGLE
For the Madison Spirit tingle67@knology.net
Population figures for 2003 from the Madison Community Development Department ranks Madison as Alabama's 12th largest city with 34,500 residents.
According to Bob Atallo, director of the Community Development Department, Madison's population has consistently increased since the 2000 census.
"In 2000, our population was 29, 329," Atallo said. In 2001, the city went above the 30,000 mark at 31,050. In 2002, it continued to grow to 32,750. Now, we're at 34,500."
Atallo said Madison has averaged a 6 percent growth rate each year since 2000.
"We're projecting the city's population at 36,200 in 2004," Atallo said. "Our estimates are based on the number of building permits and certificates of occupancy issued since the last census, and then allowing for a 7 percent average vacancy rate."
Atallo said if Madison continues to grow at the same pace during the seven years when the 2010 Census is taken, and taking it to 2015, he estimates the city's population between 47,500 to 52,500.
"I really can't be more precise than that because a lot will depend on interest rates and other housing market conditions, land prices and regulatory policies at the federal, state, county and city levels," Atallo said. "We do expect Madison's population to continue to increase."
Neighboring Huntsville also saw an increase in its population. The 2003 estimates show Huntsville's population at 162,536.
In her state of the city address earlier this year, Mayor Jan Wells said Madison has been the definition of growth during the past 20 years, noting that at the beginning of 2003, Madison's population stood at more than 33,000 residents.
"Do we want growth beyond our existing borders? If so, then what are the infrastructure needs and how do we fund it?" Wells said.
