Surge of Population in the Exurbs Continues

New York Times ^ | 6/21/06 | RICK LYMAN

[conservative in nyc]

Once again, the fastest-growing cities in the United States are some of the far-flung exurbs in the Sun Belt and the Far West, according to fresh population estimates from the Census Bureau.

The bureau's annual survey of municipalities with at least 100,000 residents shows that from July 1, 2004, to July 1, 2005, four outer suburbs in California, three in Florida, two in Arizona and one in Nevada were the country's most rapidly growing.

Leading the list was Elk Grove, Calif., on the Sacramento area's far southern edge, which grew nearly 12 percent in those 12 months, to 112,338. Elk Grove was followed by North Las Vegas, Nev.; Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Gilbert, Ariz.; Cape Coral, Fla.; Moreno Valley, Calif.; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; Miramar, Fla.; Chandler, Ariz.; and Irvine, Calif.

Several of those cities were also on the previous year's list — Port St. Lucie was No. 1 then — and the pattern of the last decade has been for an increasing number of these distant exurbs to pace the national rate of population growth.

"As far as we are concerned, this is very good news indeed," said Christine Brainerd, spokeswoman for Elk Grove's city government. "It's a sign that the development strategies the city has put in place are working and that we have become a place where many, many people want to live."

--Snip--

The only change in population ranking among the nation's 10 largest cities was that San Antonio supplanted San Diego in seventh place, although Phoenix came within fewer than 2,500 people of taking over fifth place from Philadelphia, as it will almost certainly do in next year's estimates.

[skeeter]

Funny, everyone I know is leaving.

[SierraWasp]

Emerging megalopolis and Exurban Refugee ping for EGD!!!

Dan! Your community is getting way too much press lately, don'tcha think???

[The Old Hoosier]

Ping!

[ElkGroveDan]

Dan! Your community is getting way too much press lately, don'tcha think???

Well as you all know, in the long run it's money in my pocket, so I'm not crying. We paid extra money we didn't really have, to buy into a classy development back in '98 -- so the value is still holding over here compared to some of the row tracts they are building over on the Laguna side of town.

Meanwhile though we've been looking at property in the hills. I like Ione and it's still within commuting distance of the Capitol. I wonder if Jim Robinson will let me change to AmadorDan? Or with the five kids and all, maybe El Amador. Yeah that's it! El Amador del Amador.

[DaveyB]

...the fastest-growing cities in the United States are some of the far-flung exurbs in the Sun Belt and the Far West...

Looks like a lot of folks like the idea of global warming - apparently the housing-starts in Siberia are down!

[starbase]

Now even the suburbs are too close to the most liberal-intense metropolitan centers. Doesn't speak well for public policy, this moving as far away as possible. I hear they're opening a Starbucks in Death Valley!

[ccmay]

I wonder how they decide what's an "exurb" and what's a "suburb". I'm sure it's chosen in such as way as to help the professional malcontents produce the maximum amount of indignant squawking about McMansions, SUVs, and sprawl.

Here in Phoenix, I can't see how calling Chandler anything but a suburb makes any sense. It's now one continuous built-up metro area from Phoenix to Chandler, with downtowns that are only about 15 miles apart as the crow flies. Chandler actually abuts the city limits of Phoenix at its southeast corner. Gilbert is the next town over, but still I'd call it a suburb.

Now Apache Junction or Wickenburg, there's exurbs for you.

-ccm