Bulloch County continues its steady climb in population, according to newly released estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. As of July 1, 2024, the county's population is estimated at 85,454, marking a 1.3% increase, or 1,122 new residents, since 2023.
The announcement, made by the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners' development services staff solidifies Bulloch County's position as the 32nd most populous county in Georgia and the third most populous in the ten-county Coastal Georgia Region. This region encompasses Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.
While the 2024 growth rate is slightly lower than the 1.6% increase seen in 2023, Bulloch County still outpaces the state's overall growth rate of 1.04%. Since 2020, Bulloch County has maintained its status as one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia, ranking 35th statewide, placing it within the top quartile.
The four-county area of Bryan, Bulloch, Effingham, and Chatham, heavily influenced by the Port of Savannah and the Hyundai Metaplant, accounts for a significant portion of the region's growth. These counties represent 66% of the current estimated regional population, totaling approximately 517,043, and contributed 68% of the region's annual growth between 2023 and 2024.
"The County’s current growth rate remains consistent and expected," stated Planning and Development Director James Pope. "Development entitlements have provided a stable pipeline of housing stock and have pushed Bulloch’s average home permits by month to pre-Great Recession levels."
County Commission Chairman David Bennett emphasized the board's commitment to managing the impact of this growth. "The Board of Commissioners is closely examining impacts of community growth to our services and overall service delivery to our citizens," Bennett said. "Bulloch County is prepared to take bold steps for our future and will consider various growth management tools to ensure positive impacts for our community."
The census data reveals that Bryan and Effingham counties experienced the highest growth rates in the region, at 3.2% and 3.6% respectively, while Long county saw the largest percentage increase at 6.5%. Chatham county, the most populous in the region, grew by 0.9%.
The overall Coastal Georgia Region saw a population increase of 9,497 residents, reaching a total of 777,853. Bulloch County represents 10.9% of the total regional population.
The complete data from the U.S. Census Bureau is available at https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html.
