Pike County is Pennsylvania’s fastest-growing county, according to the 2007 county population estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. As of July 1, 2007, Pike County’s population was 58,633, and has grown 2.4 percent, or 1,381 people since July 1, 2006. Pike County grew by 26.6 percent, or 12,331 persons since April 1, 2000. Pike County has been ranked as the fastest-growing county in Pennsylvania each year since 2000.

Though several counties saw strong growth during the time period, no Pennsylvania county ranks in the national top 100 for growth rate over this time period. From 2000-2007, Forest County had the largest cumulative percent population increase (40.6), but that increase is largely due to the construction of a state correctional institution in 2004.

The commonwealth also boasted four counties among the top 100 largest nationally in 2007:

Philadelphia, 24th (1,449,634),

Allegheny, 30th (1,219,210),

Montgomery, 69th (776,172)

and Bucks, 96th (621,144).

If you're into stats, click here to download the 4-page report from Harrisburg.