Winston-Salem's population grew by about 7,000 people in the last year, according to preliminary estimates from the state demographer's office.
The N.C. Demographer's Office estimated that 235,072 people lived in Winston-Salem as of July 1, 2009, up from 228,459 in 2008.
The numbers could mean an increase in Winston-Salem's share of state-collected taxes, including those on gasoline.
"It's hard to tell you what it means, and how much it means in money," City Manager Lee Garrity said, "because it depends on how much everybody else's population increased."
Garrity said he expected Winston-Salem would retain its place as the fourth-largest city in North Carolina, behind Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro, but that it would remain ahead of 5th- ranked Durham.
Greensboro's population as of July 2008 was 263,268, according to the state demographer's office; Durham's was 228,480.
The state demographer's office has not disclosed population estimates for other cities for 2009. Winston-Salem has until Sept. 9 to challenge its number; Garrity said he did not think the city would.
"This number is right in line with what our estimate was," Garrity said.
The city has challenged estimates of Winston-Salem's population multiple times in the past.
City officials disputed U.S. Census Bureau estimates in both 2008 and 2009. Both years, the bureau increased its estimate of Winston-Salem's population.
The federal government uses Census Bureau calculations to determine how much money cities should receive in federal grants. State budgeters use the state calculations for similar purposes.
"It's critical for calculations for some of the state-shared revenues," Garrity said.
lgraff@wsjournal.com
727-7279
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement