Half of the nation’s 10 fastest-growing counties between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2003, were located in Georgia, according to tabulations released recently by the U.S. Census Bureau.

While not among the fastest growing, Polk County showed considerable growth in population, adding more than 1,600 people since the 2000 census. According to 2003 figures, Polk’s population reached about 39,800 last year, compared to 38,127 recorded in the Census.

The 1,673 added people amounts to a population increase of 4.3 percent.

The fastest growing counties in Georgia had growth rates above 20 percent.

These include Chattahoochee, Forsyth, Henry, Newton and Paulding counties.

In all, the Peach State was home to 20 of the nation’s 100 fastest-growing counties. Next were Texas (12 counties) and Florida (nine counties).

A Virginia county - Loudoun, near Washington, D.C. - topped the Top 10 list, with a 30.7 percent population increase over the three-year, three-month period.

Douglas, Colo. (near Denver), ranked No. 3 in growth at 27.1 percent. Rockwall, Texas (near Dallas), fourth with a rate of 26.8 percent; Flagler, Fla. (just north of Daytona Beach), seventh with 24.8 percent; and Kendall, Ill. (in the Chicago area), 10th at 22 percent, rounded out the top 10.

Los Angeles, Calif., continued to be the most populous county in the nation, with 9.9 million residents. It also gained the most residents with an increase of 352,000 over the 39-month period. Other counties that ranked in the top 10 in both categories - total population and numerical increase - were Maricopa (Phoenix), Ariz.; Harris (Houston), Texas; San Diego, Calif.; and Orange, Calif. (See Tables 2

Other highlights:

Of the 100 fastest-growing counties, 60 were located in the South, 20 in the West, 18 in the Midwest and two in the Northeast.

Of the 100 most populous counties, 32 were located in the South, 27 in the Northeast, 25 in the West and 16 in the Midwest.

Twenty states did not have any counties that made the list of the 100 most populous.

Twenty-one states did not have any counties among the 100 fastest-growing.

California (15) had the most counties among the 100 most populous, followed by New York (nine), Texas (eight) and Florida (seven).

The Census Bureau’s Internet tables show population estimates for July 1, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, as well as the April 1, 2000, census counts. Also included are rankings and compo-nents of population change for all counties.

The new numbers, which use administrative data and estimates for births, deaths and net migration, are based on Census 2000 population counts.

That information can be viewed at http://www.census.gov/