WASHINGTON – Pike County is no longer the fastest growing county in Pennsylvania, by percentage, according to mid-year Census Bureau figures.  Pike has slipped to second place, behind very small but fast-growing Forest County, in the northwest corner of the state, about 50 miles from Erie.

The July 2007 population in Forest County was a mere 6,955, but that is 40 percent more than in 2000. 

Pike was almost nine times larger, at 58,633, but Pike’s rate of growth was 26.6 percent for the same period.  That also drops Pike out of the top 100 fastest growing counties nationwide.  The county now ranks 115.

Monroe County remains close behind, but is now in third place, with an 18.8 percent growth since 2000, and a July 2007 population of 164,722.

Wayne County ranks 9th, with a growth rate of 8.4 percent and a July 2007 population of 51,708.