The Northern San Joaquin Valley – San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties – was the fastest growing region in California from July 2016 through June 2017. The 209 grew at twice the rate as the state as a whole. Placer County in the Sacramento area was the fastest growing county with a 1.56 percent jump in population followed by Stanislaus and Merced counties tied at second at 1.47 percent followed by San Joaquin County at 1.46 percent.