Census: Butler and Warren counties lead growth in Southwest Ohio

Butler County grew from 332,807 people in 2000 to 368,130 in 2010, an increase of 10.6 percent, the ninth highest in Ohio, according to the Census. Warren County grew from 158,383 people in 2000 to 212,693 last year, the state’s 14th highest.

“I think we were growing very fast, making big leaps in 2005 to 2007 and then the economy went down,” said Mike Juengling, Butler County director of development.

The 10 percent growth in the county is on pace with past Census counts, bringing the growth seen early in the decade to a wash by the end, Juengling said. The recession, which officially went from December 2007 to June 2009, affected the housing market and most of the population increases came from people building houses.

“If it had not been for the economy, the growth might have been higher,” he said.

In 2000 and 2010, Warren County grew at the second-fastest pace behind Delaware County. Martin Russell, Warren County economic development director, explains the county’s growth spurt as options.

The county gives people options to work between Cincinnati and Dayton, two of the six largest cities in the state. It gives businesses options for a fiscally conservative county with low tax structures, he said.

“Warren County has created an environment with a positive business climate, positive residential climate, that people want to be a part of and the 34 percent growth demonstrates that,” he said.

But there are growing pains.

David Prytherch, associate professor of Miami University’s Geography Department, said new developments and housing are sharply off in Butler County.

For example, Butler County issued 890 housing building permits in 2006 and 278 permits in 2010, according to the county.

There also was a lot of speculative development, Prytherch said.

“It’s clear that the winners in terms of population gain are the suburban and exurban counties, and the losers are the urban areas,” Prytherch said. “Butler and Warren benefit from growth and investment, but struggle with sprawl and overextended services.”

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