Errington is leading the population charge in the Regional District of Nanaimo, according to Census figures released this week.
The area’s 2,678 residents recorded in 2011 represents a whopping 11.1 per cent increase from the last Census data was collected in 2006.
That increase in Area F was well over double the Oceanside total of 4.6 per cent growth and above even Parksville’s nine per cent spike in population. Qualicum Beach recorded a mere 2.2 per cent rise.
Of the other rural areas, Area E, Nanoose Bay, saw the next highest bump in population numbers, with a 3.9 per cent increase to 5,471 residents in 2011.
The increases drop sharply after that though, with Area G, San Pariel and French Creek edging up by 1.9 per cent.
Rounding out the pack on the positive side of the population ledger was Area H, Deep Bay and Bowser, which saw a one per cent bump in population, to 1,613 residents.
Rural areas that saw drops in population over the Census period included Hilliers, at 1,503 residents, Dunsmuir, at 1,271, Dashwood, at 978 and Qualicum Bay at 334 residents.