With a population that has more than doubled in less than a decade, Leland is now considered the fastest-growing municipality in North Carolina.
That’s according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which on May 21 released 2019 estimates for cities and towns based on cumulative population change from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019.
During that period, Leland’s population jumped from 13,614 in 2010 to 23,544 last year, an increase of approximately 73 percent.
Leland also ranks high on the list of fastest-growing cities and towns nationwide. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates place the Town as twelfth in the country, above Fuquay-Varina and Apex, the state’s second and third most rapidly growing towns, respectively. Fuquay-Varina ranks 17 in the U.S. for overall population growth between 2010 and 2019, and Apex is 22.
“While this is exciting news, these numbers don’t surprise me one bit,” noted Leland Mayor Brenda Bozeman. “The Town has experienced a continued increase in population, particularly in recent years, as more people from across the state and the country discover all we have to offer in terms of lifestyle, amenities, and job and business opportunities, not to mention our proximity to area beaches and larger cities like Wilmington and Myrtle Beach.”
Neighboring Wilmington grew an estimated 16.2 percent between 2010 and 2019.
The recent population estimates are based on the 2010 U.S. Census, not 2020 Census counts. North Carolina will also release its own certified population estimates from the State Demographer’s Office this year.