Northern
Frederick County sees
minimal growth last year
By James Rada Jr.
News Editor
EMMITSBURG, Md. – Growth in Emmitsburg and Thurmont last
year was six. Not six percent. Six people. This is according
to new estimates on municipal populations that the U.S. Census
Bureau released on June 28.
According
to the numbers, Thurmont’s population last year was
6027, up 5 people from 2005. The average growth since the
2000 census has been 1.3 percent a year.
“I
think that’s a little slow personally,” said Thurmont
Planning and Zoning Chairman John Kinnaird. He said the commission
hasn’t officially taken a position on how fast the town
should grow, though 2 percent annually has been discussed
more than most options.
Emmitsburg
has grown even slower than Thurmont. Last year, its population
was 2365, one more person than in 2005. However, this follows
two years where the town showed a decreasing population. Since
the 2000 census, Emmitsburg’s growth has averaged 0.5
percent a year or 3.3 percent over six years.
“We
certainly were looking at 3 percent growth not necessarily
over 6 years, though,” said Emmitsburg Planning and
Zoning Chairman Larry Little.
Emmitsburg
has grown the slowest of all Frederick County municipalities
since the 2000 census, though Brunswick and Rosemont showed
no growth at all this past year.
Emmitsburg
Mayor James Hoover the town’s growth is limited by a
Maryland Department of the Environment consent order. “Until
that’s satisfied, we’re going to remain below
our growth projection for the next several years.”
Thurmont
Mayor Martin Burns expects things to slow even more for the
town in the future. “Wait till the next couple years,”
he said. “We have no homes in the pipeline.”
Recently
returned from a Maryland Municipal League convention, he said
that some of discussion at the conference was about annexations
and smart growth. When towns annex property and develop it
at a higher density and close to population centers, it prevents
sprawl.
“If
you build in the county, only the county benefits and you
get sprawl,” Burns said.
He also
noted that if the State of Maryland reduces its aid to municipalities
as is being talking about, that reduction of revenue will
hurt Thurmont because the town is expecting less in growth-related
revenues while facing higher costs, particularly in the area
of rehabilitating its sewer system.
