Tuscaloosa Growth

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows Tuscaloosa is growing.  The population data is based on statistics from July 2009.  From 2000 to 2009, Tuscaloosa grew by about 15,000 people, which is a 20 percent increase.  A University of Alabama expert says she believes the increase is because Tuscaloosa offers good jobs and a good quality of life for newcomers.  She also names growth at the University of Alabama as a reason, and says Tuscaloosa has seen considerable business growth.  "We, in nine years, time, have seen a lot more restaurants.  We have more hotel rooms," Annette Watters, with the State Data Center, says.  "We have more service industries."

The statistics show Northport is also growing.  In 2000, Northport had around 19,400 residents.  In 2009, that number by about 4,000.  The data also shows Alabama's four largest cities are Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Huntsville.

By Terri Brewer & Paige Niewerth, WVUA News

June 24, 2010  8:44 p.m.