The U.S. Census Bureau has released county population estimates for 2018 and the numbers reveal Stanly’s population continues to inch upward.

Estimates have Stanly County population at 62,075 as of July 1, 2018, a 2.47 percent increase from 2010, when the estimated population totaled 60,576.

Stanly’s estimated population slightly decreased between 2010 and 2012 (from 60,576 to 60,456), but has slowly been creeping upward ever since.

Stanly had a 1.08 percent increase from the estimated 2017 population of 61,451 to the 2018 population of 62,075.

Other local counties have also seen increases in population totals since 2010: Rowan has increased by 2.09 percent; Cabarrus has increased by 18.38 percent; Davidson has increased by 2.30 percent; Union increased by 16.7 percent; and Mecklenburg has increased by 18.48 percent.

Though Stanly has been growing, it lags behind the growth of its four peer counties (ones with similar demographics) in the state since 2010: Carteret increased 4.2 percent, Chatham increased 14.6 percent, Haywood increased 5.2 percent and Moore increased 11.4 percent.

County Manager Andy Lucas believes Stanly’s population will continue to increase.