Rowan County saw a slight decline in population from 2010 to 2013, but a look at year-to-year figures tells a different story.
After falling from 138,448 in 2010 to 138,004 in 2012, the county gained 319 people in 2013.
The new total of 138,323 is still a .09 percent smaller population than the Census found in Rowan in 2010, but the county could be on the upswing. Here are Rowan’s estimated totals from the most recent Census report.
2010 — 138,448
2011 — 138,341
2012 — 138,004
2013 — 138,323
All the counties surrounding Rowan experienced population growth from 2010 to 2013, with Cabarrus County leading the way:
• Cabarrus — 178,072 to 187,226, up 5.14 percent.
• Iredell — 159,440 to 164,517, up 3.18 percent.
• Davie — 41,222 to 41,554, up .81 percent.
• Davidson — 162,878 to 163,420, up .33 percent.
• Stanly — 60,585 to 60,635, up .08 percent.
• Rowan — 138,448 to 138,323, down .09 percent.
Rowan is one of 49 counties whose population shrank from 2010 to 2014.
— Elizabeth Cook