News
2020 Population Estimates Released
The University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center released the July 1, 2020 Population Estimates for Virginia and its counties and independent cities at the end of January. This data is used by state and local government agencies in funding allocations and planning and budgeting. The CSPDC’s estimated 2020 population was 303,916. Since the 2010 Census, the region’s population has grown by 17,135 or 6.0%. Rockingham County and the City of Harrisonburg experienced the greatest growth from 2010 to 2020. Their populations increased 8.5% and 10.5%, respectively, to add 11,630 people to the CSPDC region. Virginia’s population increased by 7.3% during the same time period. The Weldon Cooper Center will update its Population Estimates in the second half of 2021 to include the currently delayed 2020 Decennial Census Count data.
The population estimates, including components of change, are available on the Weldon Cooper Center website. You also may find population information on the CSPDC’s Regional Data Center.
New CSPDC Fiscal Technician, Patricia Lancey
The CSPDC is pleased to announce that Patricia Lancey has been hired as CSPDC’s Fiscal Technician. Pat acquired her Associate in Applied Science in Accounting degree from Piedmont Community College. She has more than 20 years of progressive accounting and management experience in public and private sectors. Pat resides in Stuarts Draft with her husband Scott and two cats.
Highland County State Park Feasibility Study
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is conducting a feasibility study on the development of a state or regional park in Highland County. On January 26, CSPDC staff and stakeholders from DCR, Virginia Outdoors Foundation and Friends of Highland State Park toured the potential park site on Hayfields Farm in McDowell. Located in a valley between Bullpasture and Jack Mountain, the Hayfields property is 1,034 acres and features the Bullpasture river, scenic views, and a historic farm house, barn and log cabin. The feasibility study will determine the property’s suitability for state or regional park development and provide a recommendation to the Virginia House and Senate in October. Beginning this month, DCR will host a series of public sessions to share information regarding the project.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information Resources
The Virginia Department of Health’s Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) is responsible for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the CSPDC region. The CSHD has launched several helpful resources to ensure accurate information about vaccine distribution reaches the public. Residents can sign-up for CSHD’s weekly COVID-19 e-newsletter or obtain further up-to-date information from the COVID-19 vaccine webpage. For those who would like to ask questions over the phone, CSHD holds phone-in office hours on Monday and Wednesday at 7:00 pm. To participate, dial 1-844-992-4726 and enter access code 132 173 5589.
Telework Survey
The CSPDC in cooperation with the University of Virginia and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, is conducting a public survey to determine the need for a Coworking Space located in the Fishersville area. This survey will ascertain the demand for a Fishersville collective workspace that would include convenient access to major highways and Interstate 64, private secured offices or shared work areas, reliable high-speed internet access, communal office amenities and free onsite parking. Responses to this survey will assist decision makers in further developing this potential Coworking Space.