U.S. Census Bureau: New Orleans Population Continues Katrina Recovery; Houston Leads in Numerical Growth

GFP Note: Atlanta increases in population while Columbus decreases its numbers.

(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. Census Bureau: New Orleans, hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was the fastest-growing large city in the nation between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007. This follows the city having the largest rate of population loss since 2000.

Houston, another city near the Gulf Coast, led the nation’s cities in numerical increase during the period. New Orleans had the fifth largest numerical growth.

U.S. Census Bureau estimates released today show New Orleans’ population rose by 13.8 percent to 239,124 during the one-year period, to lead all cities with populations of 100,000 or more in rate of increase. New Orleans was followed by Victorville, Calif., whose population climbed 9.5 percent to 107,221. Victorville, in Southern California’s San Bernardino County, saw its population pass the 100,000 mark for the first time in 2007.

Three Texas cities made the fastest-growing top 10: McKinney and Denton (near Dallas, ranking third and 10th, respectively) and Killeen (near Austin, ranking sixth). Rounding out the top 10 were North Las Vegas, Nev. (fourth); Cary, N.C. (near Raleigh, ranking fifth); Port St. Lucie, Fla. (on the Atlantic coast, seventh); Gilbert, Ariz. (near Phoenix, eighth); and Clarksville, Tenn. (on the Kentucky border, ninth).

Houston added 38,932 residents between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, to lead the nation in numerical population increase. Houston, which reached 2.2 million, was joined by three other Texas cities: San Antonio (third), Fort Worth (fourth) and Austin (eighth). North Carolina also contributed multiple cities to the list: Charlotte (ninth) and Raleigh (10th). Rounding out the top 10 were Phoenix (second), New Orleans (fifth), New York (sixth) and Atlanta (seventh).

New York continued to be the nation’s most populous city, with 8.3 million residents. This was more than twice the population of Los Angeles, which ranked second at 3.8 million. Chicago, with 2.8 million, was third, followed by Houston and Phoenix (1.6 million).

Other highlights:

2006-2007

New to the listing of the 25 most populous cities in 2007 is Nashville-Davidson, Tenn. (a city-county consolidation), 25th with a population of 590,807. In addition, Fort Worth moved up to 17th place; Charlotte to 19th; and Milwaukee to 22nd. Washington fell out of the top 25.
California and Texas each placed five cities on the listing of the 25 fastest-growing and on the list of the 25 biggest numerical gainers between 2006 and 2007.

Other cities making both lists of the 25 largest numerical gainers and the 25 fastest-growing from 2006 to 2007: New Orleans; Victorville; North Las Vegas; Port St. Lucie; Gilbert; Fort Worth; Raleigh; Atlanta; Henderson, Nev.; and Bakersfield, Calif.

Columbus, Ga., had the largest percentage decrease from 2006 to 2007. Its population decline is attributable to a decline in the population living in military barracks. Columbus was followed by Baton Rouge, La.; Hollywood, Fla.; Jackson, Miss.; and Coral Springs, Fla. Six of the 25 fastest-losing cities were in Florida.

Cleveland suffered the largest numerical decline in population from 2006 to 2007, followed by Columbus, Ga.; Baton Rouge; Philadelphia; and Baltimore.

2000-2007

McKinney, Texas, was the nation’s fastest-growing city between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2007, as its population more than doubled to 115,620. North Las Vegas was second, as its population rose 83.6 percent to 212,114. Eight of the top 25 were in California: Victorville, Elk Grove, Irvine, Roseville, Rancho Cucamonga, Moreno Valley, Bakersfield and Fontana.

New York was the largest numerical gainer, adding 265,873 residents over the period. Houston, which added 233,876, was second. Five other Texas cities made the top 25: San Antonio, Fort Worth, Austin, McKinney and Dallas.

New Orleans experienced both the largest rate of loss and largest numerical decline during the period, as its population fell 50.7 percent (from 484,674 to 239,124). Cleveland had the second greatest rate of loss (8.3 percent, from 477,472 to 438,042), with Philadelphia ranking second in numerical decrease (from 1,517,550 to 1,449,634).