The northern third of Johnson County represents about three-fourths of the county’s population, census data shows.
The U.S. Census Bureau this week released its second substantial set of data from the 2020 census after results were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The data was released in an easier-to-use format on the census bureau’s website, and includes more data about population changes for townships and towns, including those with less than 5,000 people. Locally, the northside of the county grew substantially, while the central and southsides saw some growth, but stayed about the same, following a trend of rural residents moving to more urban areas.
Early data released in August revealed the county’s population increased by 15.8% in the last decade, climbing to 161,765 residents last year. Data also showed Bargersville was one of the county and state’s fastest growing towns, with a whopping 138% population increase. The town’s population was 9,560 last year — more than double what it was 10 years prior. The county’s largest city also saw substantial growth, increasing by 28% to 63,830. Franklin’s population increased by 6.7%, to 25,313, and New Whiteland’s population is now 5,550, up 1.4% from 2010, according to census data.
Trafalgar’s population increased by 29.2%, to 1,422. Whiteland’s population increased by 10.3%, to 4,599, and Princes Lakes’ population increased by 4.6% to 1,372, data shows.
The town of Edinburgh’s population was the only in the county to decline, a trend since 1970. Since then, the town’s population has fallen by nearly 13%. From 2010 to 2020, Edinburgh’s population dropped by more than 1% to 4,435, according to census data.
This week’s release also offered a glimpse into how the county’s townships have changed in the last decade.
White River Township grew substantially since 2010, up 24.8% to 52,365 in 2020, from 42,100 in 2010, according to census data.
Other townships in the county also saw some growth, with the exception of Blue River Township which, like the town of Edinburgh that is located in it, lost population. Blue River’s population dropped a little more than 2% to 4,837, data shows.
Data from the 2020 census was determined from forms filled out last year by tens of millions of Americans, with the help of census takers and government statisticians to fill in the blanks when forms were not turned in or questions were left unanswered. The numbers reflect decisions made in the last 10 years by individuals to have children, move to another part of the country or come to the United States from elsewhere.
The U.S. population as a whole increased to 331,449,281 in 2020, up 7.4% since 2010 — the lowest rate since the 1930s.
The information was originally supposed to be released by the end of March, but the deadline was pushed back due to delays caused by the pandemic.
The start of the 2020 census for most U.S. residents coincided with the spread of the coronavirus last year, forcing the Census Bureau to delay operations and extend the count’s schedule. Because census data is tied to where people were on April 1, 2020, the numbers will not reflect the loss of nearly 620,000 people in the United States who died from COVID-19.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Here’s how populations have changed since 2010:
United States:
2020: 331,449,281
2010: 308,745,538
Percent increase: 7.4%
Indiana:
2020: 6,785,528
2010: 6,483,802
Percent increase: 4.7%
Johnson County:
2020: 161,765
2010: 139,654
Percent increase: 15.8%
Greenwood:
2020: 63,830
2010: 49,791
Percent increase: 28.2%
Franklin:
2020: 25,313
2010: 23,712
Percent increase: 6.7%
Bargersville:
2020: 9,560
2010: 4,013
Percent increase: 138.2%
New Whiteland:
2020: 5,550
2010: 5,472
Percent increase: 1.4%
Whiteland:
2020: 4,599
2010: 4,169
Percent increase: 10.3%
Edinburgh:
2020: 4,435
2010: 4,480 (2010)
Percent decrease: 1%
Trafalgar:
2020: 1,422
2010: 1,101
Percent increase: 29.2%
Princes Lakes:
2020: 1,372
2010: 1,312
Percent increase: 4.7%
Pleasant Township:
2020: 62,086
2010: 52,957
Percent increase: 17.2%
White River Township:
2020: 52,365
2010: 42,100
Percent increase: 24.4%
Franklin Township:
2020: 21,230
2010: 20,685
Percent increase: 2.6%
Needham Township:
2020: 7,573
2010: 6,511
Percent increase: 16.3%
Blue River Township:
2020: 4,837
2010: 4,936
Percent decrease: 2%
Nineveh Township:
2020: 4,185
2010: 3,987
Percent increase: 5%
Hensley Township:
2020: 3,771
2010: 3,329
Percent increase: 13.3%
Clark Township:
2020: 2,887
2010: 2,460
Percent increase: 17.4%
Union Township:
2020: 2,831
2010: 2,689
Percent increase: 5.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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