The number of new homes built in Warren County grew faster in 2018 than in the two years prior, according to building permit data from several government offices.The new data is the latest sign of ongoing growth within Warren County, the next destination for a population wave that has been spreading along Interstate 70 for decades. In 2018, Warrenton joined the surge already being seen in Wright City and Truesdale, which The Record reported on in 2017. Areas of unincorporated Warren County have been steadily growing as well.New home construction in Warrenton tripled in 2018 compared to the year before. The city of Warrenton issued building permits for 59 residences last year, compared to 19 permits in 2017, said City Administrator Terri Thorn.With homes selling as quickly as they are being built, and more residential lots being made available for development, Thorn said the growth trend is expected to continue. That could benefit the local economy.“Since many retailers, restaurants and other desirable amenities base their decision to locate on the local and trade area populations, this influx of new residents improves the ability to generate new interest in Warrenton,” Thorn said. “The potential to attract industrial growth in the area, creating more employment opportunities, is also improved with greater abundance of skilled workers.“It is an exciting time for the city of Warrenton and our residents as we continue moving forward.”Wright City just to the east remains the leading area for new home construction in Warren County, with 144 residential building permits issued in 2018. That’s up 22 homes from the year before, and about double what the city issued in 2016.The Village of Innsbrook, meanwhile, has remained relatively isolated from the surge in construction. Developers there have maintained a steady pace building new homes. The village office issued permits for 15 homes in 2016, 12 in 2017, and 14 in 2018.Truesdale was the only area with data available that showed a relative slowdown in home building. The city issued building permits for 14 houses and one mobile home in 2018, compared to 24 house permits and one mobile home permit the year prior.Outside of local city boundaries, the amount of new home construction in unincorporated areas of Warren County also has been steadily increasing. However, data from the county showed the types of homes being built might be changing.There has been a decrease in building permits issued for single-family houses, and an increase in construction of mobile/modular homes, according to the county planning and zoning office.Construction of new single-family homes in unincorporated Warren County slowed in 2018. There were 79 building permits for houses issued last year, lower than in both years prior.Meanwhile, the number of permits for modular homes spiked last year. There were 57 modular home permits issued in 2018, compared to just 16 permits in 2017 and 11 permits in 2016.County Planning and Zoning Administrator Vickie Vohsen said there is no clear explanation of why the types of homes being built are shifting.

This July 12, 2017, photo shows a newly built home in the Heritage Hills subdivision in Truesdale on display for sale. Communities in Warren County have experienced a surge of new home construction in recent years.

Record photo