County head count may reach 10,000 with new census

Written by Byron Hensley | 01 March 2010

By Byron Hensley
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Preliminary indications from the U.S. Census 2010 show the likelihood of a big jump in estimates of the population of Coffee County – from the 48,000 counted in 2000, to somewhere possibly as high as 58,000, officials said.
Actual numbers remain to be counted, but estimates based on previous studies since the 2000 Census which have been crunched in preparation for this year’s Census indicate that the county should see numbers as low as 51,000 or 52,000, to as much as 58,000, said Margaret Cunningham, Census coordinator from Coffee County.

Cunningham, who had attended a meeting of the Coffee County “Correct Count” committee mentioned the new estimates Thursday at a meeting of the Coffee County Commission’s budget & finance committee.
Local officials have long believed the county was undercounted at the 48,025 population estimate for 2000, and long contended that the county would benefit from a higher count. For example, the county would receive greater federal funding for Coffee Schools’ free and reduced lunch program, and a greater share of Tennessee’s annual Basic Education Package, among many forms of state and federal assistance.
Local business leaders have also been hoping for higher numbers of people, which would help the community attract more and more varied restaurants and retailers.