Butler County continues to grow.

The population of the county grew by nearly 500 people from July 1, 2013, to July 1, 2014, according to estimated U.S. Census figures released by the Pennsylvania State Data Center.

Since 2010, the county’s population has grown by 1.1 percent, or 2,081 people.

“It’s not surprising,” said Bill McCarrier, chairman of the county commissioners.

The county’s population is 185,943 people. In 2013, it was 185,476. In 2010, it was 183,862.

This is in contrast to surrounding counties.

Among the surrounding counties, only Allegheny County has grown during the past few years. From 2010 to 2014, it has had a net growth of nearly 8,000 people.

However, its population dropped from 2013 to 2014. Its current population is 1,231,255 people.

From 2010 to 2014, Armstrong County decreased from 68,940 to 67,785, a difference of 1,155. Beaver went from 170,539 to 169,392, a decrease of 1,147. Clarion went from 39,989 to 38,821, a decrease of 1,168.

Lawrence went from 91,140 to 88,771, a decrease of 2,369. Mercer went from 116,674 to 114,884, a decrease of 1,790. Venango went from 54,983 to 53,529, a decrease of 1,454. Westmoreland went from 365,169 to 359,320, a decrease of 5,849.

McCarrier said Butler County has the lowest tax rate out of any of the surrounding counties. He also said the county is close to Pittsburgh and diversified, with rural parts in the north to the shopping complexes of Cranberry Township.

“We have so much to offer here,” McCarrier said.

He said companies like to hire people from the county, and the county likes to recruit companies to relocate here.

Stan Kosciuszko, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, said the growth in the county is all about the jobs and low unemployment.

“I think it’s because of the job increases in Butler County,” Kosciuszko said.

He said a lot of these jobs are with the natural gas industry, but also with the tourism industry.

Additionally, he noted companies based in the county such as MSA, Alcoa, PPG and Westinghouse Electric bring people to live in the county. Kosciuszko said there has been growth at the Butler Health System and in the education industry, too.

Kosciuszko said people who work in the county often decide to live here. Compared to Allegheny County, he noted the taxes are lower and property can be less expensive.

He said he anticipates population growth to expand in Jackson Township and the Saxonburg area.

“There’s a lot of growth going to go on there,” Kosciuszko said, saying he thinks there will be a five-year growth trend.

Statewide, the fastest growing county is Cumberland County, which grew by 3.5 percent. Its 2010 population was 235,409 and its 2014 population was 243,762, an increase of 8,353.

The largest population increase in the state was in Philadelphia County, which increased by 34,291 people, from 1,526,006 in 2010 to 1,560,297 in 2014.

The county that lost the most people was Cambria County, which lost 5,942 people. Its 2010 population was 143,674 and its 2014 population was 137,732.