(AP) -- Goose Creek is celebrating its 50th birthday and the city northwest of Charleston has seen a lot of changes during the past half century.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports that when the town was incorporated in 1961, it had about 500 residents. Town officials expect the latest census to show the population is now about 40,000.

Business Week magazine last month selected Goose Creek as the top small city in the state for raising children, mentioning such things as schools, crime rates and quality of life.

As part of the anniversary celebration, the town plans an essay contest offering scholarships to high school seniors and a chance for middle school children to be a police officer for a day.

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