Chester County Officials Expect Population Boom In Coming Years

CHESTER CO., SC –Busy roads, not enough jobs, too many homes. In the last couple of months, these have been the most common growing pains for county’s around Charlotte. However, Chester County’s pain is not growing.

The US Census shows Chester County’s population lost 68 people in the last three years. That’s a population loss of -0.2%.

As the saying goes, “numbers don’t lie”. However, Chester County Administrator, Brian Hester, and Economic Development Director, Robert Long, agree that the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

“We’ve been talking about growth in Chester, sustained residential growth For decades that hasn’t happened. It is happening now,” said Long.

The cash cow for the county has been industrial business. That’s not changing. In fact, it’s getting stronger.

“I think the sky’s the limit. You know, we’ve done over $2.5 billion and 1,500 jobs just in the last three years in our community. That’s really unprecedented growth,” explained Long.

Other counties in the Charlotte area have focused on bringing in jobs, attempting to not become a bedroom community. Chester County needs bedrooms, and plenty are being built.

A half dozen communities are in development, totaling around 3,000 homes. Most are in the northeast part of the county. Drive down the street of some of the new developments. You’ll see sold signs propped on lawns of homes that aren’t complete.

“If a home is built in Chester County, it will be bought and I think it will be bought very soon,” said Hester.

Long believes it’s the cost that’s driving the demand. That demand is so high, the county has placed a moratorium on land development around the Richburg area, hoping to boost the population further west of the Highway 9 corridor in the coming years.

About 33,000 people currently call Chester County home. Long projects a population boom between 5,000 and 8,000 people within a decade, maybe sooner.

“I have no doubt within the next five or so years, percentage wise, we’ll be the fastest growing county in the Charlotte metro,” Long explained.