WACO (March 19, 2009)--McLennan County is growing slowly, but steadily and is “well positioned” to sustain the growth despite the economic downturn, according to an analysis that Baylor University researchers released Thursday.

As of July 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the county has 230,530 residents, about 2,400 more than in July 2007.

In 2000, the county’s population was about 214,000.

The Center for Community Research and Development researchers said they’re impressed with the trend.

“Even in these tough economic times, Waco and McLennan County are continuing to grow,” said Dr. Larry Lyon, professor of sociology at Baylor and director of the CCRD.

The researchers say there has been a shift from international to domestic migration and a natural increase in population.

“In the early part of the decade, we saw 600 or so new residents each year as a result of international migration,” said Dr. Charles Tolbert, professor and chair of Baylor’s department of sociology.

“By 2008, that number was down to an estimated 462,” Tolbert said, but the decrease was offset by an increase in domestic migration.

“Nationally, internal migration is down sharply, but not here,” he said.

The largest increase, however, was natural, according to Dr. Robyn Driskell, research director of the CCRD and a Baylor sociologist who specializes in demography.

“That is, births are exceeding deaths by a significant margin,” Driskell said.