New numbers from the state show Virginia is growing faster than other states, so fast that it’s about to leapfrog over some large states in terms of the number of people who live here.
By 2040, Virginia will be the tenth largest state in America — passing Michigan and New Jersey. Shonel Sen at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service says the growth is coming mainly from the urban areas.
“We looked at different localities, the 133 cities and counties, and we see that Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and the Richmond metro area are the three main areas that are driving this growth across the state.”
The number of are expected to rise in the next 20 years, as well as the number of people moving to Virginia from other states — Michigan and New Jersey, for example. Frank Shafroth at George Mason University says those rising numbers might end up adding a new member to the congressional delegation. He says they also would ease the burden on local governments.
“Obviously more people growing here would benefit all of Virginia’s local governments because it would increase the desire for the purchase of housing, which would benefit property taxes to Virginia’s cities and counties.”
The Weldon Cooper Center’s projections also show a widening diversity in terms of racial demographics and a larger number of people over the age of 65.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.