Baldwin County’s growth can’t hide, shining through even its more unlikely hot spots, evident as ever through an upcoming milestone in Silverhill.

Under the Code of Alabama (Title 11, Section 11-40-6), incorporated municipalities containing less than 2,000 inhabitants are labeled towns, while those with more than 2,000 inhabitants are dubbed cities. U.S. Census Bureau population estimates through July 2023 have Silverhill rapidly approaching this benchmark, with most recent estimates logging the town at 1,923 residents — nearly double its total five years prior (995).

“Silverhill is one of our fastest-growing municipalities, largely due to location and the small-town feel,” said Lee Johnson, Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA) executive vice president. “We expect that trend to carry forward in the coming years as Central Baldwin grows."

Baldwin County as a whole is expected to add roughly 50,000 residents over the next decade, jumping from 249,206 in 2024 to an expectation of 299,117 in 2034, according to JobsEQ projections. Projected population growth for the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metro area (2020-2030) outpaces every other MSA in the state, leading second-ranked Huntsville by 8.3%.

Daphne-Fairhope-Foley is also slated as the top metro area for wage growth (2012-2022) after a 38.4% increase, with more business establishments per capita than any other area in the state, per JobsEQ. Forbes has placed the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley MSA in the top 1% of MSAs nationwide in regards to wage and salary growth.

“Baldwin County is one of the fastest-growing MSAs in the United States, and we expect to grow at a rate of approximately 2.5% to 3% annually going forward,” Johnson added. “This demographic shift complements and influences our economic development strategy to continue diversifying our economy by attracting quality jobs and investments.”

Now with more than 556,000 workers in the labor shed, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that Baldwin County’s growth in residents with college degrees is well ahead of U.S. averages. Only Limestone County (31.1%) leads Baldwin (18.7%) in Job EQ’s Alabama job growth data by county (2017-2023).

The top sectors for job growth in Baldwin County (2017 Q1-2023 Q1, via JobsEQ) include arts, entertainment and recreation (57.8%); construction (40.7%); professional, scientific and technical services (40%); wholesale trade (31.6%) and real estate (31%), among others.