Commercial real estate development has been strong in those areas and in Charlotte itself, which grew by 37% during the decade. Charlotte added 145,000 people during the decade, and the city expanded from 176 to 241 square miles.
Another growth trend shows the state moving away from its rural character towards urban enclaves surrounded by fast-growing suburban towns. The seven-county Charlotte metro area, for example, grew by 29% and is just short of 1.5 million people.
Nine out of 10 of the state's fastest-growing counties were clustered around Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham or the beach.
The Raleigh-Durham metro area grew 39% during the 1990s. Johnston County southeast of Raleigh was the state's fastest-growing county with a 50% increase.
South Carolina figures released earlier this year showed similar growth, with the state growing at 15.1% mostly along the beach, interstate highways and suburban areas.
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David Wilkening
David Wilkening began his long journalism career as a police reporter for Chicago-area newspapers. He became a writer-editor for major newspapers in Chicago, Washington, Detroit and Florida. He has been a business editor, political editor and travel editor for newspapers and magazines. He tried for a while to be a political operative but did better as an adjunct college professor teaching English and journalism. He is the author of several books, both ghost-written and under his own name. He is also a widely published freelance writer who currently lives in Orlando.
