Newton County has been featured by the Orton Family Foundation in a report for its strong stewardship program, the 2050 Plan.

The 2050 Plan aims to house 88 percent of the county's future population on just 30 percent of the county's land by 2050.

The plan was created to help the towns within Newton keep its small-town-feel while growing. The plan will create compact communities that will help preserve farmland and wooded land.

The report also heralded the program for its commitment to involving the community. According to the report, the Center has hosted more than 2,000 events, attracting approximately 20,000 participants. This equates to one in every five Newton County residents being involved somehow in the program.

Newton County's population has grown by more than 60 percent over the past decade, making it the seventh fastest-growing county in the U.S., according to the report.

The growth put a strain on the county's land, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, water supply and air quality.

With the potential to grow even more, the Center for Community Preservation and Planning together with the Newton County Leadership Collaborative, devised the 2050 Plan to sustain growth.

To read the report, visit www.orton.org/resources/stewardship_study.