In general, you'll find that counties in Alabama that are part of a metro area are growing faster than are non-metropolitan counties. Watters noted that most of the state's growth came from just a few counties. For example, Jefferson County is home to 15 percent of the state's entire population, and the Birmingham metro area considered as a whole accounts for 21 percent of the state's population. Only 14 of Alabama's 67 counties account for 75 percent of all the population growth in the state over the last seven years. Watters explained that population gains come from people moving or being born into an area, while losses come from people moving away or dying.
People move primarily for job or educational reasons.
And, she added, people don't always live in the counties where they work. Good Alabama examples are Autauga and Elmore counties, home to many Montgomery County workers and part of the Montgomery metropolitan area. All 10 of the counties recording population losses have shown continuing downward trends for some time. Earlier in the decade it had substantial population loss related to announcements about closing military facilities located there. But Calhoun County's basic economic strength has reversed that population decline and the area now shows modest growth.