Study: Central Indiana has state's fastest population growth

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Central Indiana's population growth is outpacing other regions in the state, according to a new study by Indiana University.

The Indiana Business Research Center at the university's Kelley School of Business conducted its study using recent population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Indianapolis Star reported .

The study found that a dozen of the state's 15 fastest-growing cities and towns with a population of at least 5,000 are in the Indianapolis area. St. John, Winfield and Cedar Lake were the three towns outside the Indianapolis metro area that were among the state's fastest growing places.

"In 2017, 648 of Indiana's 1,010 townships, or other sub-county divisions, either held steady or added population," the university said in a statement. "Of this group, 14 townships, all in Indianapolis area suburban counties with the exception of Logan Township in Fountain County, had a growth rate above 2 percent."

Whitestown is the fastest-growing town in Indiana for the seventh year in a row, with a rate of 7.6 percent last year. Its population increased from about 3,100 in 2010 to more than 8,000 in 2017.

Westfield had a 5.3 percent increase, while McCordsville grew by 4.9 percent and Plainfield expanded by 4.6 percent.

Indianapolis had the largest total population increase, gaining an additional 5,500 residents last year. Fort Wayne had the next largest total gain with about 2,000 new residents. Westfield, Fishers and Noblesville also had large numerical increases, according to the study.

About 80 townships had a growth rate between 1 percent and 2 percent last year.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com