Fastest Growing Cities

[Khashbaatar_Tsagaanbaatar]

What are the fastest growing cities in the United States? What factors are leading to this surge in growth?

[cheeriokid61]

I'm not sure what cities they are, but most of the fastest growing cities, percentage wise, started out small (like under a 100,000) and then exploded to over 200,000, which is already more than a 100% icrease.

[jazzman]

I did some homework

I'd say, based on the size of the areas, that Las Vegas is the winner. I only used stats for the three major cities that make up the Las Vegas Metro area. Clark County NV has 1,576,000 and 14.6% growth since 2000.

[Recchia]

The fastest growing cities nowadays are always sunbelt cities, cause that's where the "amenities" are that people want and therefore employers want.

I think the top ones have been Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Antonio, etc. over the past decade and a half. It's easy for these cities to grow since they can annex newly developed land very easily, and therefore constantly expand their boundaries--they're growing in area as well as population quite rapidly.

Isn't Atlanta one of the top growing metro's in the country?

[monsoon]

In terms of Metros, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, and most of the Fla. Metros are all going to be up there.

I recently calculated Charlotte's numbers.

April 1 2000

• Mecklenburg County (Charlotte Core) - 695,370

• Charlotte MSA - 1,330,407

• Charlotte CSA - 1,896,993

July 1 2004

• Mecklenburg County (Charlotte Core) - 771,617

• Charlotte MSA - 1,474,734

• Charlotte CSA - 2,067,810

Change from 2000 - 2004

• Mecklenburg County (Charlotte Core) - 76,247 = 11%

• Charlotte MSA - 144,327 = 10.8%

• Charlotte CSA - 170,814 = 9%

This translates to the following growth rate/decade

• Mecklenburg County = 27.5%%

• Charlotte MSA - 144,327 = 27%

• Charlotte CSA - 170,814 = 22.5%

Unlike many metros, most of Charlotte's growth is in its core area.

[Brickell]

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/20...106.html#table1

As of 2002 City - pop. - growth rate

1 Gilbert, Ariz. 135,005 22.8

2 North Las Vegas, Nev. 135,902 17.7

3 Henderson, Nev. 206,153 17.3

4 Chandler, Ariz. 202,016 14.4

5 Peoria, Ariz. 123,239 13.4

6 Irvine, Calif. 162,122 13.3

7 Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 143,711 12.5

8 Chula Vista, Calif. 193,919 11.7

9 Fontana, Calif. 143,607 11.4

10 Joliet, Ill. 118,423 11.4

[Recchia]

Joliet Il, thats the only one of those cities that kind of surprises me. Any reason for the big growth (did it annex new land), or this is just increased density growth?

[Rufus]

top ten fastest growing cities according to the 2004 Almanac:

1. Henderson, NV 216.6 % change between 1990 and 2002

2. Chandler, AZ 122.7 %

3. Las Vegas, NV 95.7 %

4. Plano, TX 85.3 %

5. Scottsdale, AZ 65.9 %

6. Glendale, AZ 52.8 %

7. Mesa, AZ 47.1 %

8. Bakersfield, CA 41.9 %

9. Raleigh, NC 39.3 %

10. Phoenix, AZ 38.7 %

Almost all is in the Valley of the Sun and the Inland Empire. Most surprising was Henderson and Raleigh (Even though i am from raleigh).

[monsoon]

I think you have to look at different designation than city in the USA because the laws for what constitutes a city varies between states and even counties within a state. For example Plano, TX list above is nothing but a suburb of Dallas.

Its more relevant to list either county, or metro growth, CSA or MSA.

[Brickell]

woefully out of date but here's the growth from 1990 to 2000.

Top 20. census code - rank - metro - pop2000 - pop1990 - increase - % increase

4120 1 Las Vegas, NV--AZ MSA 1,563,282 852,737 710,545 83.3%

5345 2 Naples, FL MSA 251,377 152,099 99,278 65.3%

9360 3 Yuma, AZ MSA 160,026 106,895 53,131 49.7%

4880 4 McAllen--Edinburg--Mission, TX MSA 569,463 383,545 185,918 48.5%

0640 5 Austin--San Marcos, TX MSA 1,249,763 846,227 403,536 47.7%

2580 6 Fayetteville--Springdale--Rogers, AR MSA 311,121 210,908 100,213 47.5%

1080 7 Boise City, ID MSA 432,345 295,851 136,494 46.1%

6200 8 Phoenix--Mesa, AZ MSA 3,251,876 2,238,480 1,013,396 45.3%

4080 9 Laredo, TX MSA 193,117 133,239 59,878 44.9%

6520 10 Provo--Orem, UT MSA 368,536 263,590 104,946 39.8%

0520 11 Atlanta, GA MSA 4,112,198 2,959,950 1,152,248 38.9%

6640 12 Raleigh--Durham--Chapel Hill, NC MSA 1,187,941 855,545 332,396 38.9%

5330 13 Myrtle Beach, SC MSA 196,629 144,053 52,576 36.5%

9200 14 Wilmington, NC MSA 233,450 171,269 62,181 36.3%

2670 15 Fort Collins--Loveland, CO MSA 251,494 186,136 65,358 35.1%

5960 16 Orlando, FL MSA 1,644,561 1,224,852 419,709 34.3%

6720 17 Reno, NV MSA 339,486 254,667 84,819 33.3%

5790 18 Ocala, FL MSA 258,916 194,833 64,083 32.9%

0580 19 Auburn--Opelika, AL MSA 115,092 87,146 27,946 32.1%

2700 20 Fort Myers--Cape Coral, FL MSA 440,888 335,113 105,775 31.6%

[Brickell]

Here it is in numerical terms. Percentages can be deceiving. Even though Vegas nearly doubled it's population in a decade, they're still way behind in raw numbers. LA and NYC are way ahead when it comes to that.

Top 20.

census code - rank - metro - pop2000 - pop1990 - increase - % increase

4472 1 Los Angeles--Riverside--Orange County, CA CMSA 16,373,645 14,531,529 1,842,116 12.7%

5602 2 New York--Northern New Jersey--Long Island, NY--NJ--CT--PA CMSA 21,199,865 19,549,649 1,650,216 8.4%

1922 3 Dallas--Fort Worth, TX CMSA 5,221,801 4,037,282 1,184,519 29.3%

0520 4 Atlanta, GA MSA 4,112,198 2,959,950 1,152,248 38.9%

6200 5 Phoenix--Mesa, AZ MSA 3,251,876 2,238,480 1,013,396 45.3%

3362 6 Houston--Galveston--Brazoria, TX CMSA 4,669,571 3,731,131 938,440 25.2%

1602 7 Chicago--Gary--Kenosha, IL--IN--WI CMSA 9,157,540 8,239,820 917,720 11.1%

8872 8 Washington--Baltimore, DC--MD--VA--WV CMSA 7,608,070 6,727,050 881,020 13.1%

7362 9 San Francisco--Oakland--San Jose, CA CMSA 7,039,362 6,253,311 786,051 12.6%

4120 10 Las Vegas, NV--AZ MSA 1,563,282 852,737 710,545 83.3%

4992 11 Miami--Fort Lauderdale, FL CMSA 3,876,380 3,192,582 683,798 21.4%

2082 12 Denver--Boulder--Greeley, CO CMSA 2,581,506 1,980,140 601,366 30.4%

7602 13 Seattle--Tacoma--Bremerton, WA CMSA 3,554,760 2,970,328 584,432 19.7%

6442 14 Portland--Salem, OR--WA CMSA 2,265,223 1,793,476 471,747 26.3%

5120 15 Minneapolis--St. Paul, MN--WI MSA 2,968,806 2,538,834 429,972 16.9%

5960 16 Orlando, FL MSA 1,644,561 1,224,852 419,709 34.3%

0640 17 Austin--San Marcos, TX MSA 1,249,763 846,227 403,536 47.7%

1122 18 Boston--Worcester--Lawrence, MA--NH--ME--CT CMSA 5,819,100 5,455,403 363,697 6.7%

1520 19 Charlotte--Gastonia--Rock Hill, NC--SC MSA 1,499,293 1,162,093 337,200 29.0%

6640 20 Raleigh--Durham--Chapel Hill, NC MSA 1,187,941 855,545 332,396 38.9%

[NorthStar]

woefully out of date but here's the growth from 1990 to 2000.

Top 20.  census code - rank - metro - pop2000 - pop1990 - increase - % increase

6720    17    Reno, NV MSA                                                              339,486        254,667      84,819      33.3%

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Reno - The Biggest Little City In The World. This is one city we don't hear much about.

[DetroitBazaar]

In Phoenix and Las Vegas, besides casinos, what do they do for water? I lived in Phoenix and was told time and again not to drink the water out of the faucet. Las Vegas has all of the water right there on the strip evaporating away for people's entertainment. Just a concern of mine, so what kinds of things are these cities doing about the situation besides trying to ship it in or drinking the bottled variety?- if this is too off topic, I or someone else will start another thread, forgive me I'm new and haven't had the chance just yet to read the complete archives. Seems to me the southwest, while growing fast, will have to face some serious issues soon. Ahh, I remember walking around in the "river" that runs through Tempe.

Peace from DetroitBazaar.

[Allan]

Most of the water out west comes from the Colorado River. Much of California's water is piped in from the Colorado River.

If anything will limit growth of the cities like Las Vegas & Phoenix it will be the availability of water. It is a major concern, which is why there has been talk of piping water in from Lake Michigan.

[stevenctaylor]

Temecula, CA - I was born there in 1982 (pop. about 5,000). Became a city in 1989 with a pop around 26,000 and in 2005 has a population in the city limits over 85,000 and in the metro area over 200,000 people. Very conservative and family oriented.

[MJLO]

I thought temecula was part of Greater San Diego

[atlrvr]

Well.....tomorrow, the Census should release the 2004 updated city population estimates.

[DetroitBazaar]

Looks like San Jose has taken Detroit out of the top 10. Once 2 million, today, a questionable 900,000. Many have moved to the fastest growing cities above.

Peace from DetroitBazaar

[RemusCal]

woefully out of date but here's the growth from 1990 to 2000.

Top 20.  census code - rank - metro - pop2000 - pop1990 - increase - % increase

4120    1    Las Vegas, NV--AZ MSA                                                    1,563,282        852,737    710,545      83.3%

5345    2    Naples, FL MSA                                                            251,377        152,099      99,278      65.3%

9360    3    Yuma, AZ MSA                                                              160,026        106,895      53,131      49.7%

4880    4    McAllen--Edinburg--Mission, TX MSA                                        569,463        383,545    185,918      48.5%

0640    5    Austin--San Marcos, TX MSA                                              1,249,763        846,227    403,536      47.7%

2580    6    Fayetteville--Springdale--Rogers, AR MSA                                  311,121        210,908    100,213      47.5%

1080    7    Boise City, ID MSA                                                        432,345        295,851    136,494      46.1%

6200    8    Phoenix--Mesa, AZ MSA                                                    3,251,876      2,238,480  1,013,396      45.3%

4080    9    Laredo, TX MSA                                                            193,117        133,239      59,878      44.9%

6520    10    Provo--Orem, UT MSA                                                        368,536        263,590    104,946      39.8%

0520    11    Atlanta, GA MSA                                                          4,112,198      2,959,950  1,152,248      38.9%

6640    12    Raleigh--Durham--Chapel Hill, NC MSA                                    1,187,941        855,545    332,396      38.9%

5330    13    Myrtle Beach, SC MSA                                                      196,629        144,053      52,576      36.5%

9200    14    Wilmington, NC MSA                                                        233,450        171,269      62,181      36.3%

2670    15    Fort Collins--Loveland, CO MSA                                            251,494        186,136      65,358      35.1%

5960    16    Orlando, FL MSA                                                          1,644,561      1,224,852    419,709      34.3%

6720    17    Reno, NV MSA                                                              339,486        254,667      84,819      33.3%

5790    18    Ocala, FL MSA                                                              258,916        194,833      64,083      32.9%

0580    19    Auburn--Opelika, AL MSA                                                    115,092          87,146      27,946      32.1%

2700    20    Fort Myers--Cape Coral, FL MSA                                            440,888        335,113    105,775      31.6%

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You would not believe how fast Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers is growing. People are literally moving here from everywhere, mostly California, Dallas, and Chicago. Walmart is attributed to most of the growth and all the consumer products companies that are opening satellite offices. We have a small corporate america right here in Northwest Arkansas. Amazing!!!

[Rockford_IL]

Joliet Il, thats the only one of those cities that kind of surprises me.  Any reason for the big growth (did it annex new land), or this is just increased density growth?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Annexation is responsible for the large increase in Joliets population. It's a Chicago suburb that is far enough away that there is a lot of unincoporated land around it, yet close enough to be considered a suburb.

[Snowguy716]

Yes, I remember when my father (orginally from Omaha, NE) was bragging about how Omaha surpassed Minneapolis in population. And surely it did! Almost by 75,000 now! But then you take into account that Minneapolis isn't even 50 sq. miles in size. These cities out west that are growing so fast are growing just as fast in size as they are in population.

Notice how San Diego is a fast growing city.. yet San Diego really has no suburbs. The metro area of San Diego is slightly smaller than the Twin Cities (or is it slightly bigger now), yet San Diego has a population of over 1,000,000 compared to MInneapolis' 380,000.

I also wanted to comment on water intake from the Great Lakes. Thanks to an agreement signed last year by the Great Lakes states and the subsequent Canadian provinces, no water can be taken out of the Great Lakes for use unless it can be replaced 100% within a 12 month period. Kind of shuts down the idea of taking water from teh great lakes in an area that has gone stupid in the water usage department.

You don't see Minnesota carting in heat from the desert when it's -40*F! (Although some probably wish we could.)

[flamingomonkey]

Joliet Il, thats the only one of those cities that kind of surprises me.  Any reason for the big growth (did it annex new land), or this is just increased density growth?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Joliet is in Will County, SW of Chicago. Will is one of the fastest growing counties in the country and if you want a new home under $200,000 in Chicagoland, that's where you have to live. Joliet has annexed massive amounts of land west of the city, crossing over the Kendall County line. Hence the fast growth.