WINDSOR—The Town of Windsor’s population nearly tripled in the last 10 years, jumping to 2,626 in 2010 from 916 in 2000, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Some of the growth is attributed to people moving into the community, but most a portion of Isle of Wight County came after the town annexed a portion of Isle of Wight County around 2002, said Windsor Mayor Carita Richardson.

“We annexed more people than the original town’s (population),” Richardson said Friday in response to Windsor being the fastest growing town in Western Tidewater over the last decade.

Richardson expects that growth to continue.

“We have two new housing developments in Windsor and we have an intermodel park sitting right outside our boundary. If and when that takes off, we would expect a large amount of growth,” Richardson said.

There’s also been talk of a high-speed passenger rail-line going through Windsor and the development of a new U.S. 460 from Suffolk to Petersburg. About 105 new homes are planned for Holland Meadows, and a Virginia Beach developer has proposed building a 212-unit housing complex near Windsor Middle School.

FRANKLIN

The City of Franklin’s population increase of 236 people to bring the total to 8,582 somewhat intrigued Mayor Jim Councill.

“There have been some houses built and little out-migration,” Councill said. “That’s a 2 percent increase — not a lot, but at least it’s stable.”

City Manager June Fleming sees it as natural growth.

“Well, over a 10-year period you would expect some growth,” Fleming said. “Given the changes we have in the economy, particularly with the closure of the (International Paper) mill, I’m pleasantly surprised.”

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY

Southampton County’s population grew from 17,482 in 2000 to 18,570 in 2010.

County Administrator Mike Johnson attributed the nearly 1,100 increase in residents to natural growth.

“There’s no real magic reason,” Johnson said. “At this point, we certainly haven’t had any time to analyze the data, which we will have to do.”

BOYKINS

Boykins experienced a loss of nearly 10 percent. The population fell by 56, from 620 in 2000 to 564 in 2010, which surprised Mayor Spier Edwards.

“I didn’t realize it was that much of a loss,” Edwards said.

He noted that the Southampton County town has an aging population.

“We’ve got a lot of homes in Boykins for sale,” Edwards said. “A lot of these homes (belong to) people who died and they don’t have any families to come and live here.”

Edwards hopes the recent development of Boykins’ business base will reverse the population loss; in the 1960s, the town had 850 residents.

“We’ve lost at least 300 people in the last 50 years,” he said. “It could be disastrous for maintaining a small town.”

OTHERS

In Capron, the town experienced a loss of one. The population was 167 in 2000 and 166 in 2010.

Isle of Wight County saw its population grow from 29,728 to 35,270 over the last 10 years.