Augusta retained its status as the state's second-largest city in the latest U.S. Census numbers, but it is growing at a snail's pace.

The consolidated city -- which doesn't include Hephzibah and Blythe -- grew a little less than 1 percent during the Census Bureau's reporting period from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008. Augusta's population went from 192,407 to 194,149, according to census estimates.

The pace of growth ranked fifth among the 10 Georgia cities with populations of at least 50,000. Atlanta had the highest growth rate, 3.4 percent, and was ranked 13th on the list of fastest-growing U.S. cities with populations of at least 100,000.

Hephzibah had the highest growth rate among the three incorporated areas in Richmond County. The city's population increased 2 percent, from 4,437 to 4,533, while Blythe's grew by 0.9 percent, from 797 to 804. (A small part of Blythe falls in Burke County.)

In Columbia County, Grovetown's population grew by nearly 6 percent -- from 8,721 to 9,224. Harlem's growth was just over 2 percent, from 2,012 to 2,057.

Richmond County's total population of 199,486 -- which includes Blythe and Hephzibah -- is only 289 fewer than at the start of this decade after years of reported decline. However, much of that total is the result of what is termed natural population increase.

From April 1, 2000, to July 1, 2008, an estimated 9,922 more people left Richmond County than moved in, the third-highest negative net migration in Georgia during that time. Only DeKalb (18,827) and Liberty (11,706) had a higher negative amount among the state's 159 counties, according to census estimates. However, the number of births in Richmond County far surpassed deaths. There were 26,399 births in the nine-year period compared with 15,682 deaths, giving the county a natural population increase of 10,717.