Shelby County has fallen from its perch as the fastest-growing county in the United States.

The county does remain the fastest-growing county in Alabama.

But according to the Census Bureau, Shelby County does not even rank in the top 10 fastest-growing in the U.S.

I was certainly surprised to hear that information. Like most of you, I live here.

I was stuck on the interstate for an extra hour the other day.

I have had to travel on the 280 parking lot at 7 a.m. and also at 5:30 p.m. when it’s even worse.

The Census Bureau bases these figures on numbers from the 2000 census.

Apparently, the fastest-growing county is out West &045; Douglas County, Colo., located near Denver.

It grew 13.6 percent over a 15-month period.

The Census Bureau claims the west is the nation’s fastest-growing region &045; all those wide open spaces, I guess.

Loudoun County, Va., had the second-largest growth at 12.6 percent followed by the Atlanta suburb of Forsyth County, Ga., which grew at 12.1 percent.

Following those counties are:

No. 4 &045; Rockwell County, Texas, at 11.4 percent;

No. 5 &045; Williamson County, Texas, at 11.2 percent;

No. 6 &045; Henry County, Ga., at 11.1 percent;

No. 7 &045; Spencer County, Ky., at 10.8 percent;

No. 8 &045; Flagler County, Fla., at 10.3 percent;

No. 9 &045; Collin County, Texas, at 10.1 percent; and

No. 10 &045; Scott County, Minn., at 9.9 percent.

Scott County is located just outside Minneapolis.

According to the census report, Los Angeles County grew by 1.2 percent, or 122,649 people, bringing its population to 9.64 million.

Now, that’s growth I hope I never have to experience.

A population of 9 million is just too many.

Loving County, Texas, has the least population of any U.S. county with fewer than 100 residents. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

If the county was 100 square miles, that’s one person per square mile. I bet that’s the most peaceful place on earth.

Also in the news … it’s interesting that a county working so hard to eliminate drug use would open its doors to a rock group that comes with its own traveling band of &uot;hoods.&uot;

Drug and alcohol abuse at Oak Mountain was so prevalent this past weekend that more than 200 were arrested and two died.

To invite a band that targets drug users and sellers to come into our county is a big mistake.

Surely, there is some way we can stop this from happening again