The population of Elkhart County’s three cities and four towns is edging up, according to the last batch of estimates put out by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Still, even more in Elkhart County are choosing to live in unincorporated areas, outside the established limits of the municipalities here. In fact, growth outside the towns and cities easily accounts for the largest share of overall population growth in the county. Those living in unincorporated areas — a slight minority in years past — now represent a slight but growing majority of the population.
It’s hard to tell what accounts for the trend, the seeming preference among those in Elkhart County for life outside cities and towns. The absence of city property taxes? Lack of available housing in incorporated areas? Failure of cities and towns to annex and absorb areas on their periphery?
It’s not necessarily a desire for rural country living, though that may be part of it. A lot of the growth is occurring in sprawling residential subdivisions that have the feel of city neighborhoods but sit in unincorporated areas. Whatever the reason, or reasons, the numbers tell a clear story. The place to be for most people coming to Elkhart County, or moving around within the confines of the county, is outside the towns and cities.
To be sure, the cities here are growing. According to figures released Thursday, May 21, Elkhart edged to an estimated 51,421 people as of July 1, 2014, up from 51,259 in 2013 and 50,949 in the 2010 head count. Goshen grew to 32,267 in 2014, up slightly from 32,066 a year earlier and 31,719 in 2010.