By Rob Stroud and Carl Walworth Staff Writers

Charleston had a 3.1 percent population increase while Mattoon's population declined 0.8 percent.

None of the figures approached the statewide population increase of 8.6 percent. Some suburban areas grew about 50 percent while other areas in the state experienced population declines.

The East Side of Coles County fared better in the important numbers that help determine things such as federal funding.

The official Census figures show that the populations in each of the six surrounding counties increased also, with Clark County experiencing the most growth.

Charleston's population increased from 20,398 in 1990 to 21,039 in 2000, an increase of 641. Mattoon's population declined . from 18,441 to 18,291, a total of 150.

Mayor Dan Cougill of Charleston said he is. glad to see the population of Coles County increasing, adding that there are many areas of the state where the population is declining. "It proves this area is a good place to live," Cougill said.

Mattoon Mayor Wanda Ferguson said with some new sub- divisions the last 10 years, she thought the city would do better. "I am a little disappointed," Ferguson said. "I felt like with the new subdivisions we would have more people. We have a great city and I think the economy here is good."

Coles County has 1,552 more people in the 2000 count than it had in 1990, beating a 1999 projection that the county's population would increase only 0.3 percent.

"It's better than expected," said Doug McDermand, executive director of the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission. "I expected it to be flat based on the projection. This number shows some growth."

The biggest percentage increase in Coles County was in the unincorporated areas, where the population increased from 10,238 in 1990 to 11,258 in 2000, a nearly 10 percent jump. Of the county's 1,552 person increase, 1,020, or about two-thirds, was in unincorporated areas. Much of the rest, 641 people, was in Charleston.

McDermand said much of the increase in the unincorporated areas came in areas within the zoning jurisdiction of Mattoon and Charleston, which extends 1.5 miles from the city boundary ." A lot of the growth is fairly close to the cities but not within the corporate limits," he said.  The majority of the growth appears to be in Charleston, Mattoon and Lafayette townships.

In one of the more unusual twists, Oakland's population of 900 was the same in 1990 as in 2000.

The largest percentage increase in the area was in Clark County, which had a 6.8 percent increase to 17,008.

Cumberland County had the second biggest increase, 5.5 per- cent, with a new population of 11,253.

All seven area counties posted some population gain, though the increase in Edgar County was less than 1 percent.

Effingham County had an 8.1 percent increase to 34,264.

Cindy Titus, executive director of the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, said figures showing that Charleston is growing will make the community more attractive to potential businesses. She said even a slight increase is better than the alternatives. "I would have been real disappointed if it was the same or less," Titus said of the figures. Titus said the Census figures for Charleston and Coles County were comparable to population projections that she has seen in the past, so they were not a surprise. She said the growth in Coles County could be seen in the numerous housing developments that have been built in recent years.

Both Cougill and Titus said that the figures for Charleston would have to be examined closely to ensure that they did not miss a significant number of Eastern Illinois University students. Cougill said the city has told the U.S. Census Bureau that it is concerned because Census surveys were mailed during Eastern’s finals week, and the follow-up work was , done during summer break.

Used with permission from Mid-Illinois Newspapers
Publishers of the Mattoon Journal Gazette and the Charleston Times-Courier 

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