The numbers are in and Kent County has grown, slightly.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau the county welcomed 1,000 new residents more than in 2000, the date of the last census. The county’s population has grown by 5.2 percent to 20,197. Population-wise Kent is still the smallest county in the state. It also grew the least, with the exception of Baltimore City which saw a population decline of -4.6 percent. Queen Anne’s and Cecil counties each grew by more than 17 percent. By far the most popular county to move to in the state seems to be St. Mary’s, which saw a population increase of 22 percent.
Residents who identify themselves as “white alone” make up 80 percent of the county’s population. The second largest group is African Americans who make up 15 percent of the population.
There is no shortage of available homes in Kent. The Census Bureau shows the county has 10,549 vacant homes, or approximately 23 percent. The Bureau defines a vacant home as being for sale, seasonal, or empty/uninhabitable. The town with the largest percentage of vacant homes is Betterton with 51 percent.
At Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting, County Director of Housing Planning and Zoning Gail Owings said the county’s high rate of seasonable residents made it third in the state for the number of vacant homes. She also said the number of housing units in the county has grown faster than the population.
To view the county’s complete 2010 census visit 2010census.gov or www.census.gov/2010census.
Warrior Bob Kramer says
The Spy says: “the county has 10,549 vacant homes, or approximately 23 percent.”
I believe you meant to say that there are now 10,549 housing units and 23% (2,425) of them are vacant v 9,410 housing units in ’00 with 18.5% (1,740) vacant.
Marge says
I wonder how much of the population increase since 2000 is due to the increase in undergraduate enrollment at Washington College. Although it was not always the case, I believe that for some decades now students above the boarding-school level are counted where they go to school (whether they live on campus or off, unless they’re living in their family home while attending college).
Marty Stetson says
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO BE THE BIGGEST, JUST THE BEST. bIG IS NOT ALWAYS BEST.