Three Cherokee County cities have doubled in population in the last decade, according to a new report.

The cities of Canton, Woodstock and Holly Springs saw more than 100 percent growth from 2000 to 2009, according to a study by the Atlanta Regional Commission metro planning agency.

Countywide, the population grew from 141,903 people in 2000 to 205,900 in 2009, an increase of almost 64,000 people. That breaks down to about 20 people moving to the county every day.

Woodstock ranked third in total population change in the metro area, followed in fourth place by Canton.

Woodstock's population boomed from 10,050 people in 2000 to 23,095 last year, increasing by 13,045 people, or 130 percent.

Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques said as the growth was not unexpected given its proximity to Atlanta, the city government was prepared for the most part.

"The only place we were lacking was transportation," he said. "You can't get money to build the roads until people move there."

Henriques said transportation has improved over the decade through projects such as the state's Xpress Bus system, which has routes from Canton to Woodstock to Atlanta, and the addition of an exit-only lane on Interstate 575 between exit 7 at Highway 92 and exit 8 on Towne Lake Parkway.

The city government, he said, is also working on projects to add an I-575 interchange at Rope Mill Road and to widen Towne Lake/Arnold Mill Road.

Canton's population grew from 7,709 people in 2000 to 20,072 as of 2009, a change of 13,045 people, or a 160 percent increase.

"It means that the city grew really too fast," Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood said, adding the growth led to some of the fiscal problems the city is facing now. "Managed growth is better than unmanaged growth. A lot of that growth was unmanaged."

Holly Springs grew from 3,195 people in 2000 to 8,974 people in 2009, a change of 5,779 people or 180 percent.

Ball Ground's population increased modestly from 730 people in 2000 to 852 people in 2009, an increase of 122 people or 16 percent. The City of Nelson grew from 626 people in 2000 to 791 people in 2009.

Waleska saw a drop in its population over the last decade. In 2000, the city had a population of 616 people. By 2009, the city had lost 20 people, seeing its population drop to 596 people, a decrease of 3 percent.