With Naperville doubling in population and Aurora growing to almost 100,000 people, Du Page County led the state and the metropolitan area in population growth during the 1980s, final Census Bureau figures released Wednesday showed.
All the suburban collar counties, including Du Page, registered double-digit percentage increases. Du Page`s population increased by 19 percent during the 1980s, a gain of more than 122,000 residents. That is almost as many people as the county had in 1950, at 154,599.
In contrast, Chicago lost more than 200,000 people, sinking below the 3 million mark for the first time since 1920. As a result, the city stands to lose more than $800 million in state and federal funds in the 1990s. City officials vowed to challenge the figure.
The unincorporated areas and 262 suburbs outside Chicago posted a combined population gain of 9 percent to nearly 4.5 million during the 1980s. Overall, the region grew by 2 percent to 7.3 million, retaining its status as the third most populous area in the nation after metropolitan New York and Los Angeles. The figures for those areas-the nation`s first and second largest, respectively-will be released Friday.
One of the fastest growing counties in the nation, Du Page had 313,459 residents in 1960. It grew to 487,966 in 1970, then shot to 658,835 in 1980. It now has 781,666 people, according to the census figures.
And the 1990 population figures show that the other collar counties are right behind Du Page.
Booming Lake County cracked the half-million mark with 516,418 people, a 17 percent gain over 1980. Kane County jumped to 317,471 residents, an increase of 14 percent. Will County`s population rose to 357,313, a 10 percent gain. And the number of people in McHenry County rose to 183,241, a 24 percent gain-the biggest percentage increase among the area`s six counties.
With Chicago`s loss dragging it downward, Cook County dropped to 5.1 million people, a decline of 3 percent. But the population of suburban Cook rose 3 percent to 2,321,341.
With the publication of the population figures, Du Page County Board Chairman Aldo Botti said he will now establish a special committee to study redistricting alternatives, including redrawing district boundaries to conform with the explosive growth of suburbs such as Naperville.
”I have been waiting for this census to set up a committee to reapportion the county into an unknown number of districts,” Botti said. ”We may have to increase the size of the districts. We may have to reduce the number of representatives from each district.”
Reapportionment is the decennial process of readjusting representative jurisdictions to conform to the U.S. Supreme Court-ordered standard of ”one person, one vote.” Like their state counterparts, the boards of counties in Illinois are legally bound to complete the work by July 1.
As if to underscore Du Page`s explosive growth, Naperville, Aurora and Carol Stream ranked one, two and three among the region`s biggest gainers in population.
Naperville added 42,750 people during the 1980s; Aurora, 18,288; and Carol Stream, 16,244.
Most of Aurora is in Kane County, but the bulk of the city`s population growth occurred in its eastern portion, which is located in Du Page.
Aurora Mayor David Pierce was jubilant over the final count of 99,581, which was 22 percent higher than the city`s 1980 population and 7 percent higher than Aurora`s own 1990 population estimate. In fact, some Aurora officials wondered if the Census Bureau had made a mistake.
”We`re very pleasantly surprised,” Pierce said. Residents occupying housing finished since last April, when the census was taken, probably have pushed Aurora`s population over the 100,000 mark, the mayor said.
In all, 25 of Du Page`s 30 municipalities gained population during the 1980s. The five population losers were Villa Park, Hinsdale, Itasca, Oakbrook Terrace and Elmhurst, which lost 2,247 people-the seventh biggest decline among Chicago`s suburbs.
In Kane County, the final population tallies showed, 16 of 19 municipalities gained population during the 1980s. Among the biggest gainers was Batavia, whose population jumped to 17,076 from 12,574, an increase of 36 percent.
The three Kane County towns that lost population were Burlington, Carpentersville, and Pingree Grove, according to the census.
The population losses will affect more than bragging rights. The Illinois Municpal League estimates that cities and villages receive an additional $80 for every person counted in the census-$20 in state motor fuel tax funds, $30 in income tax funds and $30 in income tax surcharge funds.
As a result, mayors in some of the towns that lost population vowed to appeal the figures for a second time. The first appeal occurred after preliminary census figures were released last August.
”Whatever means that are available to us (to appeal), we will follow,”
said Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Richard Sarallo. He claims there are more housing units-and thus, more people-in his suburb than in 1980.
There was also disappointment in the Will County boomtown of Bolingbrook, where officials appealed the preliminary census count of 37,393, a stunning figure because a 1989 special census showed that the village`s population was 40,253.
The final Census Bureau count for Bolingbrook was 40,843.
”We want to verify it,” said Gordon Braun, village manager, who claims the village`s count should be more than 41,000. ”There`s so much income that is derived by the formula based on population.”
Naperville Mayor Margaret Price appeared satisfied that the Census Bureau had revised its final count for her suburb to 85,351. Last August, in its preliminary count, the census said Naperville had 82,340 people. It had 42,601 residents in 1980.
Price said, however, that higher number wouldn`t produce enough revenue to allow Naperville to keep up with programs, such as providing insurance for retired municipal employees, that are being mandated by Congress and the Illinois General Assembly.
”With all the mandates coming down, from both the federal government and the state, the increase in population does not begin to cover the increased expenses that are passed onto us by other government bodies,” she said.
In 1980, Aurora and Naperville together had a population of 123,894.
They now have a combined population of 184,932 and seem well on their way to fulfilling predictions by the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission that they will have a combined population of more than 274,000 by the year 2010-bigger than St. Paul.
