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County increases by 39 percent
Citys population more than doubles
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The City of Dawsonville grew by more than 139 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to U.S. Census results released last week.

 

“People finally found out what a hidden secret we have been for a long time,” said Mayor Joe Lane Cox on Monday. “This is great.”

 

Looking back over the last 10 years, Cox said the little city that’s grown from 1,059 in 2000 to 2,536 residents today has seen much change.

 

“We have a grocery store and some new, good places to eat that we didn’t have before,” he said.

 

Land annexations in early 2007 about doubled land space and added a few residents.

 

“It wasn’t very many when we first annexed, but it’s grown a good bit since then,” Cox said.

 

Cox said a surge of residential construction starting in mid-2006 also played a role.

 

He pointed to Red Hawk Ridge, a single family neighborhood on Shoal Creek Road, as proof.

 

“The houses are affordable, starter homes and people really bought them up,” he said.

 

While residential construction has halted with the economic downturn the last few years, Cox anticipates an upswing this spring.

 

“People are starting to inquire again,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Dawson County saw a population increase of 39.53 percent, or 6,326 residents, growing from 16,004 in 2000 to 22,330 in 2010.

 

Charlie Auvermann, executive director of the Development Authority of Dawson County, said the numbers were in line with the authority’s  2009 projection of 22,006 people in the county.