Census estimates show growth in Oxford
Jun. 4—OXFORD — The U.S. Census Bureau released its 2021 population estimates for municipalities in May.
It believes Oxford's population increased from 8,654 to 8,775, an increase of 121, or 1.4%. Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent attributed that growth to two factors, one being the city's investment in its sewer and water systems and its work to maintain the downtown area's "historical, walkable nature."
A multitude of events, such as Music on Main and bike rodeos, help attract new people who, in many cases, are "younger folk bringing new ideas and a progressive air" that Sergent said is appealing to those considering moving to the city.
The second factor, she said, is the increasing population density and congestion in adjoining metropolitan areas like Durham.
Sergent shared an anecdote about somebody from Raleigh who visited the town and insisted to his wife that they should look into moving there. His wife said she would never leave Raleigh for a place like Oxford. She agreed to the visit, however, and the couple made an offer on a house that same week.
The population increase is "likely just a beginning," Sergent said. "It's just a harbinger of things to come."
Henderson, on the other hand, lost 173 people, constituting a 1.1% loss. The city's population, 15,127 in 2020, dropped to 14,954 in 2021, the Census Bureau estimates.
"I don't think we did a good job of getting people registered like they should have been," Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess said.
She said there are likely areas where the city failed to get people to respond. For the Hispanic community, there may have been a language barrier, she said, and not everybody has access to the internet.
"We've got to do a better job of marketing the area, and telling people, OK, we may not be growing as fast as Johnston County, but we have other amenities that make up for that," Burgess said. "And that's what we need to do, a better job of telling our story."
Warrenton gained exactly one person, a 0.1% increase, from 855 to 856. Warrenton Town Administrator Robert Davie said the city has grown even while Warren County's population falls.
"It seems like the ability to work from home allows people to be where they want to be," Davie said.
The flexibility remote work provides, combined with Warrenton's attractions, such as breweries, a distillery and new apartments to be opened in a former warehouse, are drawing more people to what Davie described as a "quaint" town.
The attractions are the result of city officials "greasing the wheels of economic development" for the past 10 years or so, efforts which are now paying off, Davie said.
