99 replies to this topic

[flith]

The Census has revised Chattanooga's 2006 population estimates, at the request of the city.  The new estimate is 168,293 an increase of 13,103.  This revision is one of the Census Bureau's larger corrections.  The city's population has now officially grown 8.2% from 2000, and almost reached it's all time high of 169,514 in 1980.

[miami1855]

The Clarksville Chamber of Commerce's new directory just came out. They are listing Clarksville's population as 111,317.

[Rural King]

This sort of thing makes one question the accuracy of census data. I say this because if they aren't estimating the bigger and mid-size cities populations accurately how far off are they on smaller cities and towns where errors would prove even more costly in regards to state and federal funding?

[Hankster]

flith, on Nov 7 2007, 02:12 PM, said:

The Census has revised Chattanooga's 2006 population estimates, at the request of the city.  The new estimate is 168,293 an increase of 13,103.  This revision is one of the Census Bureau's larger corrections.  The city's population has now officially grown 8.2% from 2000, and almost reached it's all time high of 169,514 in 1980.

This is great news for Chattanooga, and I think this much more accurately describes Chattanooga's population.  This city is on the move!  I hope this begins to erase the wrong impression that many have that Chattanooga is being "left" behind by many other cities.

[miami1855]

jaxboro, on Nov 8 2007, 11:38 AM, said:

Who knows, most of these "revised" figures are actually the official Special Census figures that cities can do. They are alloted 3 specials between the 10 year cycled census polls. Murfreesboro has used all but one of them, I'm sure they'll use the last one next year. It makes sense, a 2000 census, 02, 05, 08, special census', they are equally spaced, and its easier to do that way. My belief, and many can agree I;m sure, is that Murfreesboro will have 100,000 residents by 2010. Average rates show about 5,000 a year move in. We'll see, but I'm 100% confident that by 2015, the Boro will be TN's 5th largest city.

OK, then....it's a race! I'll see you back here in 7 years!  

[mempho]

While I appreciate this post, I must point out that any population tracking of the Metro areas in Tennessee is always going to be slighted toward Middle Tennessee because all of its suburbs are in state. But Cities like Memphis and Chattanooga are growing into different states. I've already seen the post for Chattanooga.

For Memphis, it's biggest boom has been in North Mississippi. The 2006 Census shows Desoto County, which is directly below Memphis in Mississippi, has grown to nearly 150,000 people. That would make Olive Branch/Southhaven the 5th largest city in Tennessee, if it were located in Tennessee.

Let's tell the truth without telling it slant...

Mempho, I report....You decide....

[Rural King]

^ I don't think there is any bias towards Middle Tennessee in census data. The fact is Middle Tennessee is growing very rapidly and many of its cities are having to challange their census numbers so they will accurately reflect their cities sizes and growth rates, which is essential in order to receive appropriate levels of state and federal funding. Also the growth of TN metro areas (inside and outside the state) is irrelevant as this thread only deals with the populations and growth rates of Tennessee cities proper (within city limits).

I think you are seeing bias where there is none. Folks are just dicussing the facts as they relate to this thread topic.

[sleepy]

mempho, on Nov 11 2007, 07:03 AM, said:

While I appreciate this post, I must point out that any population tracking of the Metro areas in Tennessee is always going to be slighted toward Middle Tennessee because all of its suburbs are in state. But Cities like Memphis and Chattanooga are growing into different states. I've already seen the post for Chattanooga.

For Memphis, it's biggest boom has been in North Mississippi. The 2006 Census shows Desoto County, which is directly below Memphis in Mississippi, has grown to nearly 150,000 people. That would make Olive Branch/Southhaven the 5th largest city in Tennessee, if it were located in Tennessee.

Let's tell the truth without telling it slant...

Mempho, I report....You decide....

But the simple fact is that Southaven and Olive Branch are not cities in Tennessee, so they will never be included in the largest cities in Tennessee.  It would make no more sense than including them in the largest cities in New Jersey.

[Justiceham]

Murfreesboro is currently conducting its 2008 census, surely we've reached 100,000 by now   lol. Does anyone have any new census information for the pending 8th, 9th and 10th largest cities?

10th: Bartlett or Hendersonville

8th or 9th: Franklin or Johnson City

Edited by Justiceham, 16 February 2008 - 12:36 AM.

[miami1855]

Not based on any census data, Clarksville city leaders have projected the current population at 135,000.

[memphisvol]

miami1855, on Feb 19 2008, 08:09 AM, said:

Not based on any census data, Clarksville city leaders have projected the current population at 135,000.

For Memphis, it's biggest boom has been in North Mississippi. The 2006 Census shows Desoto County, which is directly below Memphis in Mississippi, has grown to nearly 150,000 people. That would make Olive Branch/Southhaven the 5th largest city in Tennessee, if it were located in Tennessee. >>

If you combine the two cities then yes, but that is like also combining Germantown/Collierville, which would give you more population than Olive Branch/Southaven.  In the next 5 years, you will see declining #s for DeSoto, although it will still grow at a very healthy 2-2.5% range.  If you look at housing and building starts since 2006, DeSoto County has tumbled and their biggest homebuilder, Reeves-Williams, is cutting back staff and homebuilding significantly (many will think that is a good thing b/c their houses are so cookie cutter- but will still lower the county's growth).  Demographically since about 2004, DeSoto County has shifted (although it will take 2-3 more  years of stats to fully illustrate) from White growth to African American growth.

The ,largest growth in the Memphis area over the next 5 years, especially if more schools are built, will be in Fayette County.   Fayette County's total  building numbers have stayed remarkably stable sicne 2006, and now there are some months when towns like 3,000 pop. Oakland are building more homes than say 40,000 pop. Southaven.  There has also been one month recently where the total monetary value of home building in Fayette exceeded the much larger DeSoto. However, even if Fayette grows about 4-5% a year like I project, none of the cities will ever be in the top 10 population wise in our lifetime.

These are my up and coming areas for the 3 regions in Tennessee-  West TN- Fayette County; Middle TN- Wilson County; and East TN- Loudon County.  All 3 counties are growing very fast with high personal incomes (relataive to the rest of the state).  Out of these counties, it is possible that Mt. Juliet in Wilson County could reach the top 10 in about 10-20 years.

[Hankster]

rocky top buzz, on Jul 2 2006, 09:19 PM, said:

Wasn't Knoxville or Chattanooga at one point the largest city in Tennessee? How did Memphis capture that ranking in the first place?

Here's some old populations of Tennessee's four largest cities:

..........................2006........1980........1950........1900.........1850
Memphis..........670,902...646,356...396,000...102,320.......8,841
Nashville..........584,272...455,651...174,307....80,865......10,165
Knoxville..........182,337...175,030...124,769....32,637........2,076
Chattanooga...168,293...168,016...130,009....30,154........1,591

Our cities have really grown a lot over the years.  

Note:  Nashville's population based on 2006 Census estimate of 552,120 + 32,152 = (Census raised population of Davidson County by 32,152 from 575,261 to 607, 413 in 2006 after population estimate challenge)

Edited by Hankster, 13 March 2008 - 06:27 PM.

[Fallingwater]

miami1855, on Feb 19 2008, 09:09 AM, said:

Not based on any census data, Clarksville city leaders have projected the current population at 135,000.

I've seen estimates for 125,000 in a couple of places.

[miami1855]

Fallingwater, on Apr 6 2008, 07:27 PM, said:

I've seen estimates for 125,000 in a couple of places.

Over the last 5-10 years, we are seeing a much more rural population (i.e. Sango, other points outside the city limits). So, if Clarksville consolidates, I think that number would jump more than people think.

[flith]

The Times Free Press had the latest population estimates in for Jul 7, 2007.  Chattanooga was the fastest growing TN city last year.  Mayor Littlefield joked that he had his sights set on Knoxville.


City                  2007 pop   change

Chattanooga....169,884.......8.7%
Nashville..........590,807.......8.3%
Knoxville..........183,546.......4.7%
Memphis...........674,028.....-2.4%

[miami1855]

flith, on Jul 10 2008, 07:16 AM, said:

The Times Free Press had the latest population estimates in for Jul 7, 2007.  Chattanooga was the fastest growing TN city last year.  Mayor Littlefield joked that he had his sights set on Knoxville.


City                  2007 pop   change

Chattanooga....169,884.......8.7%
Nashville..........590,807.......8.3%
Knoxville..........183,546.......4.7%
Memphis...........674,028.....-2.4%

Chattanooga could possibly catch Knoxville. But, Clarksville could catch Chattanooga too!    Those same census estimates showed that Clarksville had a 15.2% growth since 2000, to around 120,000. Also, if consolidated government is ever passed, Clarksville could jump 10-20,000 fairly quickly.

But Chattanooga and Knoxville are both progressive cities and I see them both continuing to grow rapidly.

Regardless, I'm glad to see that Tennessee cities are so popular.

[HABANERO7]

I am amazed at the continued population boom south and southeat of Nashville in the Williamson and Rutheford County areas. Murfreesboro, Franklin and Spring Hill are all growing at an astonishing rate. Murfreesboro will clear 100,000 plus with next years estimate while Franklin could go over the 60,000 mark. At the continued pace, Spring Hill will go from a small town in 2000 to one of the top 15 ranked cities in the state in population in the next 5 years.

Franklin
2000 - Census count ----- 41,842
2007 - Census estimate ----- 57,380
Percent increase 2000-2007 ----- 37.13%

Murfreesboro
2000 - Census count ----- 68,816
2007 - Census estimate ----- 98,406
Percent increase 2000-2007 ----- 42.99%

Spring Hill
2000 - Census count ----- 7,715
2007 - Census estimate ----- 23,852
Percent increase 2000-2007 ----- 209.16%

I wonder how the growth of Spring Hill with react to the possible sale of Saturn if GM makes that move in the near future?

Tennessee City Ranking per 2007 Census estimates

• 1. Memphis ----- 674,028
  
• 2. Nashville / Davidson ----- 590,807
  
• 3. Knoxville ----- 183,546
  
• 4. Chattanooga ----- 169,884
  
• 5. Clarksville ----- 119,284
  
• 6. Murfreesboro ----- 98,406 (Probably going to pass Clarksville in the next 5-8 years for #5 on the list)
  
• 7. Jackson ----- 63,196 (Might get passed by Johnson City by 2010)
  
• 8. Johnson City ----- 61,028
  
• 9. Franklin ----- 57,380 (Going to be # 7 on the list by 2010)
  
• 10. Bartlett ----- 47,603
  
• 11. Hendersonville ----- 47,032
  
• 12.Kingsport ----- 44,435
  
• 13. Cleveland ----- 39,190 - (My home town with slow but steady growth these last 7 years mostly commerical)
  
• 14. Collierville ----- 39,152
  
• 15. Germantown ----- 37,317
  
• 16. Smyrna ----- 36,582
  
• 17. Brentwood ----- 35,058
  
• 18. Columbia ----- 33,983
  
• 19. La Vergne ----- 29,038
  
• 20. Cookeville ----- 28,901
  
• 21. Gallatin ----- 28,747
  
• 22. Oak Ridge ----- 27,514
  
• 23. Morristown ----- 27,432
  
• 24. Maryville ----- 26,766
  
• 25. Bristol ----- 25,474
  
• 26. Lebanon ----- 24,103
  
• 27. Spring Hill ----- 23, 852 (Quickly on the move. could land in the top 18 or so by 2010)
  
• 28. Mt Juliet ----- 20,248
  
• 29. Farragut ----- 20,083
  
• 30. East Ridge ----- 19,728

Edited by HABANERO7, 11 July 2008 - 01:27 PM.

[Hankster]

flith, on Jul 10 2008, 09:16 AM, said:

The Times Free Press had the latest population estimates in for Jul 7, 2007.  Chattanooga was the fastest growing TN city last year.  Mayor Littlefield joked that he had his sights set on Knoxville.


City                  2007 pop   change

Chattanooga....169,884.......8.7%
Nashville..........590,807.......8.3%
Knoxville..........183,546.......4.7%
Memphis...........674,028.....-2.4%

This represents a new landmark reached for Chattanooga.  The 169,884 population tops the 1980 census population (highest ever previously recorded) and is the highest population ever recorded for the city of Chattanooga.  Chattanooga did go through some tough times in the 80's and early 90's, but has reinvented itself to become one of the most attractive cities in the south.  I look for this growth to continue in Chattanooga for some time.

[miami1855]

I agree that Clarksville and Murfreesboro will remain close at #5 and #6. However, the city of Clarksville is growing at an impressive clip as well. We were listed as the 9th fastest growing city in the entire country over the last year (the highest ranking Tennessee city). And those census numbers are a bit below what have been coming out of the county planning commission's office lately. Also, with possible consolidation of city and county forthcoming, I see Clarksville gaining at an even faster rate. We could easily be at 150,000 in the next 5-7 years. So, Murfreesboro may pass Clarksville eventually, but I don't see it happening in the next decade.

Edited by miami1855, 14 July 2008 - 07:17 AM.

[Justiceham]

miami1855, on Jul 14 2008, 08:15 AM, said:

I agree that Clarksville and Murfreesboro will remain close at #5 and #6. However, the city of Clarksville is growing at an impressive clip as well. We were listed as the 9th fastest growing city in the entire country over the last year (the highest ranking Tennessee city). And those census numbers are a bit below what have been coming out of the county planning commission's office lately. Also, with possible consolidation of city and county forthcoming, I see Clarksville gaining at an even faster rate. We could easily be at 150,000 in the next 5-7 years. So, Murfreesboro may pass Clarksville eventually, but I don't see it happening in the next decade.

Murfreesboro could also possibly consolidate. At the rate Murfreesboro is growing the city could easily be at 120,000 by 2010. Smyrna could be at 45,000 by that time as well. I agree with you that it will be quite some time before Murfreesboro passes Clarksville. If you take into consideration the size of Clarksville at around 100 sq mi vs 60 sq mi for Murfreesboro you can see where the true population differences occur. If Murfreesboro were that size, several thousand more people would be included in the census estimate.