State Population Gains Largely in Central Maryland

Most of Maryland’s population growth continues to occur in four suburban counties -- Montgomery, Prince George’s, Anne Arundel and Baltimore -- according to recently released population estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

The state gained roughly 44,000 residents in a year, from July 1, 2012, to July 1, 2013, according to the Maryland Department of Planning. And nearly half of that gain came from Montgomery (12,209) and Prince George’s (8,662) counties, Maryland’s two largest counties. Other growth areas in the 12-month period were Anne Arundel (5,568), Baltimore (5,333) and Howard (5,224) counties.

Baltimore City, meanwhile, lost 313 residents after gaining 1,430 residents the year before — the city's first increase in years, the Baltimore Sun reports. Baltimore's population now stands at 622,104.

With the population increases in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, the Washington suburbs were the state's fastest-growing area, with a 3.8 percent population gain.

Several rural Maryland counties lost residents: Allegany County lost 348 residents, Kent County lost 168, Talbot County lost 109 and Queen Anne's County lost 25, according to the data.

The state attributed the population losses in Western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore to the collapse of the housing market coupled with the recession.