This map shows population change in the Atlanta region between 2000 and 2009. Red, orange, and yellow regions represent places where the change in population was negative, and green-blue represent population increases.
According to the 2000 Census and a 2009 estimate update, just over 1 million people moved to Atlanta in that nine-year span. The map at the left indicates that almost all of them moved into the suburbs. The fact that several dozen zones actually lost population indicates that people move to the suburbs regardless of available housing in the urban core.
Certainly many areas inside the perimeter increased population. But the trend is clearly to the outside. Why is this a bad thing? Most jobs are still in central areas, meaning that suburban residents have to drive further to reach jobs and entertainment than urban residents. This complicates traffic congestion, parking, and city services.
This could represent some good things, though. The data could also show urban families moving to the suburbs in pursuit of better education for their children and to escape more intractable social ills. But does the increased commute time and cost negate these other benefits? More on this later.
Data in this post came from data available on the Atlanta Regional Commission website, http://www.atlantaregional.com/info-center/gis-data-maps
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