For more information call: Alexandra A. Radtke
Director of Public Affairs
312/454-0400

For Immediate Release

Census Population Estimates Uphold NIPC Forecasts and Growth Strategy

Chicago, July 15, 1999:  The Planning Committee of the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) heard today that the U.S. Census Bureau's estimates of population for municipalities in northeastern Illinois show pattern of gains and losses which confirm the general accuracy of NIPC's forecasts and emphasize the importance of NIPC's efforts to build a regional growth strategy. The Bureau's estimates, released in June 1999, are for July 1998.

The Bureau found that between 1990 and 1998, the six-county area grew by 505,503 people or seven percent. McHenry County grew by 31.5 percent, gaining 57,704. Will County, which NIPC forecasts will be the fastest-growing county in the next twenty years, gained 28.5 percent. Other county increases were Kane, 23.2 percent; Lake, 17.2 percent; DuPage, 12.6 percent ; and Cook, 1.7 percent. Chicago grew by 18,353 or just under one percent, reversing a long-term pattern of population loss.

"In the several decades prior to1990, the six county region's growth had slowed to almost a standstill," said Max Dieber, NIPC's Director of Research. "During that time rapid growth in many suburbs was offset by population losses in Chicago and many of the inner suburbs. In contrast, the 2020 forecasts endorsed by the Commission in late 1997 foresee renewed regional growth combining modest population modest growth in Chicago; stable population in the older suburbs; significant slowing of the rates of growth in areas that had boomed during the 70s and 80s; and continuing outward expansion of the suburban fringe."

The Census Bureau estimates found that this pattern of change occurred between April 1990 and July 1998. The one exception was that many of the inner suburbs continued to lose population. However, only 60 were in the negative column, compared to 89 between 1970 and 1990.

The Census estimates bear out the need for public policy actions to support revitalization of older communities, maintenance of areas whose recent growth is leveling off, and cost-effective public investment combined with high standards of environmental protection in what is currently the suburban fringe. These policy actions will be developed as part of the Regional Growth Strategy which NIPC is now developing in cooperation with representatives of local and state government and the civic, environmental, and business communities. NIPC's broad goal in developing the strategy is to see the region achieve, over the next two decades, continued improvement in the quality and sustainability of its development.

The map and table listed below are in the Portable Document Format (PDF) . In order to view or download these files, you will need the Adobe(R) Acrobat(R) Reader that is available for free from the Adobe web site.

(Update: On October 7, 1999 the U.S. Census Bureau issued for the city of Oak Park a revised July 1, 1998 population estimate of 54,076. This revision was considerably higher than the originally released estimate of 50,646.  Neither the map or table which accompany this news release reflects Oak Park's revised population estimate.)

Right click here to either view or download a map that illustrates the pattern of estimated change from 1990 to 1998.

Right click here to either view or download a table that contains population totals for each of the region's 270 municipalities.

The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission is the comprehensive planning agency for the six-county metropolitan area. In addition to planning, the agency provides technical and research assistance and reviews state and federal grant requests for local governments.

222 South Riverside Plaza * Suite 1800 * Chicago IL 60606 * (312) 454-0400 * FAX (312) 454-0411