McCORDSVILLE — A Hancock County community is the second fastest growing place in Indiana, according to data analyzed by the Indiana Business Research Center.
McCordsville grew by more than 7 percent last year, gaining more than 400 new residents, and town officials say that growth isn’t going to slow anytime soon.
McCordsville’s population growth also outpaced every other community in Hancock County, which added about 1,325 new residents last year, Census data shows. Fortville and Greenfield each grew by about 1 percent, and New Palestine grew by about 2.5 percent during the same time period, the Indiana Business Research Center study showed.
With new businesses recently opening and two more subdivisions planned, McCordsville is expected to keep gaining new residents, said planning director Ryan Crum.
This year, Meijer opened a new store in the town situated on Hancock County’s northwest side. Contractors also finished building a senior living facility with more than 100 units on County Road 900N.
And more development is already planned.
The Geist Montessori Academy, which has campuses in McCordsville and Fishers, is relocating in McCordsville to build a new 40,000 square-foot facility that’s expected to be completed in the next two years.
New homes are in the works, too.
So far this year, the town council has issued 42 single-family home building permits, down from previous years.
Crum attributes that slight decrease (there were 114 issued in 2016) to a dwindling number of lots available to build, prompting the town council to consider approving two land annexations.
The town council has already approved an annexation that paves the way for 34 new homes to be built in the town’s boundaries.
Members are also currently considering whether to annex land near 96th Street and County Road 500W, on which a developer plans to construct 220 new homes.
“We’re building houses right and left,” Crum said. “There are permits going out the door almost daily.”
Location and a good school district are the key factors leading to new homes being built and more residents moving in, Crum said.
The town’s proximity to two interstates (Interstate 70 and Interstate 69) and its neighboring communities (Giest and Fishers) make McCordsville an attractive area to build a home and raise a family.
Mt. Vernon School Corp. is becoming more well-known, Crum said, which certainly helps in attracting families to McCordsville.
But the area also is attractive for businesses _ the Mt. Comfort business park is booming with new industry, and town officials hope to see more development along Broadway Street thanks to the new Meijer.
As more residents move in, more business will come, Crum said, as the two usually work in tandem.
“We are busy, as always,” Crum said.
