Growing pains rural counties.

• Position: Statewide - Statistical data

The Tar Heel population increased more than 100,000 last year--fifth most among the states--eclipsing 9.7 million. That's due to the popularity of the counties in its largest metropolitan statistical areas. More than half of the state's 85 rural counties lost population. "It matches closely with where we lost job opportunities," says Garnet Bass, director of communications for Raleigh-based North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center Inc. "These communities were dependent on manufacturing, but now people are leaving because they don't see opportunities for jobs that can provide enough to raise their families." Most worrisome is the loss of young people. Between 1990 and 2010, the 18-30-year-old demographic decreased in 54 rural counties; 16 lost more than 20% of that segment. But it wasn't doom and gloom for all small towns. Because of its proximity to Raleigh and Fayetteville in rural Harnett County, Dunn had the largest increase--2,850, giving it 122,135--of any micropolitan statistical area in the U.S.

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The population expanded by 100,970 last year. Growth in the seven largest metros totaled nearly 90% of that. Asheville 3.7% Winston-Salem 3.3% Greensboro-High Point 5.5% Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia * 39.1% Durham-Chapel Hill 8.8% Raleigh 25.6% Fayetteville 1.8% * includes Chester Chesterfield, Lancaster and York counties in South Carolina COUNTY INDEX 1. Alamance 0.7% 2. Alexander (0.6) 3. Alleghany (0.8) 4. Anson (0.6) 5. Ashe (0.2) 6. Avery (0.7) 7. Beaufort (0.3) 8. Bertie (1.4) 9. Bladen (0.2) 10. Brunswick 1.8 11. Buncombe 1.2 12. Burke (0.4) 13. Cabarrus 1.9 14. Caldwell (0.4) 15. Camden 0.4 16. Carteret 0.4...