Posted on 07/07/2011 7:00:44 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
What cities are best positioned to grow and prosper in the coming decade?
To determine the next boom towns in the U.S., Forbes, with the help of Mark Schill at the Praxis Strategy Group, took the 52 largest metro areas in the country (those with populations exceeding 1 million) and ranked them based on various data indicating past, present and future vitality.
We started with job growth, not only looking at performance over the past decade but also focusing on growth in the past two years, to account for the possible long-term effects of the Great Recession. That accounted for roughly one-third of the score. The other two-thirds were made up of a a broad range of demographic factors, all weighted equally. These included rates of family formation (percentage growth in children 5-17), growth in educated migration, population growth and, finally, a broad measurement of attractiveness to immigrants as places to settle, make money and start businesses.
We focused on these demographic factors because college-educated migrants (who also tend to be under 30), new families and immigrants will be critical in shaping the future. Areas that are rapidly losing young families and low rates of migration among educated migrants are the American equivalents of rapidly aging countries like Japan; those with more sprightly demographics are akin to up and coming countries such as Vietnam.
Many of our top performers are not surprising. No. 1 Austin, Texas, and No. 2 Raleigh, N.C., have it all demographically: high rates of immigration and migration of educated workers and healthy increases in population and number of children. They are also economic superstars, with job-creation records among the best in the nation.
Perhaps less expected is the No. 3 ranking for Nashville, Tenn.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.forbes.com ...
Texas has four of the top 9 cities. None of the Texas border cities are in the top 9.
You've just described Austin, Texas.
Something to consider:
Before you start chasing off newcomers, remember Texas is right across from Mexico.
All this boom and immigration from various points north, just might keep Texas from losing the demographic battle.
In fact, Texas could really become America’s next big thing. Understanding a lot of Texans might see this as a bad development, but in this poster’s humble opinion the eventual alternative is the day illegals manage a voting majority, and change the agenda entirely.
Might be, Texas faces a decision:
1) Accept more Yankees and Californians.
2) Prepare for eventual multicultural loss.
3) I suppose there’s always secession, though demographics still makes that one dicey.
In Texas’ shoes, I’d be trying to get FReepers to move there.
Sounds great!
Charlotte just bragged that we didn’t have any killings during the July 4th celebration, compared to Memorial Day this year and past riots on July 4.
Two of the cities who used to make it to the top 10 are no longer there -— Las Vegas and Phoenix.
The Lake of the Ozarks got a bit nuts over the Independence Day weekend. 12 DWIs and 18 BWIs (boating while intoxicated.)
Oconomowoc, WI
Ashwaubenon, WI
Menomonee Falls, WI,
and the ever-popular Winneboujou, WI
Tis a pity!!
“Actually, Austin is a very bad place to live, so dont come here.”
I agree. Austin is a Marxist hell-hole.
“Come on down to the Missouri Ozarks. Low taxes, low cost of living, deer, fish, turkey in plentiful supply. Good water, mild climate (except for hot summertime.) Own a gun ? Bring it.”
We’ll be in Branson in a couple of weeks for the Future Congress.
I encourage conservatives to move to Michigan because there is no better time to seize control and turn the state around.
Hunting and fishing here matches anything the country has to offer. We sit dead square on top of the Antrim basin shale gas play which is virtually untouched due to idiotic democrat policies. The GOP holds overwhelming control of the state government now. In some of our congressional districts 100 conservative votes can mean the difference in election outcomes.
I’m betting that 5000 new conservatives could cause Michigan economically to rival Texas in a decade.
Texas is more than a place...it's a state of mind. Parents like me visit our children's schools on Veteran's Day to tell them the true meaning of the holiday.
In middle school, they get a full year of Texas History.
Newcomers of all stripes learn the meaning of competition, from socializing to sports. Texas has per capita the most beautiful women in the world, despite what the Beach Boys say about California girls.
Places of worship continue to boom as well. My parish has grown from 400 families to over 7000 families in the past 15 years. Baptist and Protestant churches are in continual expansion mode, too.
Austin is the anamoly, but that's ok. Our legislature meets every other year, and it's been dominated by Republicans for over a decade.
Don't discount the positive effect of tort reform in assessing our ability to keep a check on liberalism. The TX state licensing board is barely able to keep up with certifying doctors moving into Texas.
Finally, Dallas has one of the largest gay communities in the country. Texans are truly a "live and let live" kind of folk...people want to be left alone to do their own thing.
Texas is a special place with special people. I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could.
I've told my three children I've done two special things for them they can't take away from me: one, I made sure they were born in Texas; two, I taught them how to swim.
Anything extra is pure gravy.
“I suppose theres always secession, though demographics still makes that one dicey.”
Secession works if Oklahoma and Louisiana join the party.
Freepers yes—all liberals—no!
(I don’t actually live in Austin—I’m in Lakeway) Traffic in Austin has gotten very bad in the 10 years or so that I have lived here.
Austin also has a serious illegal problem. I’m not sure if it still is, but it was a “Sanctuary City? IIRC.......
“Dallas has one of the largest gay communities in the country.”
Now isn’t that just fabulous.
Haw! Ah'm frum Loozy-anner. Y'all Texans don't know what HOT is. In Loozy-anner, when it's 95 degrees, it's 99% humidity (when it's not 100%, that is). And no, Houston doesn't compare....I've lived in Houston.
Over 6 million people now live in the Metroplex, and is home to a number of large corporate headquarters and regional offices of federal agencies, so it shouldn't really be a shock to anyone.
We already have Austin. We don’t need Californians.
I don't think I could hang in Houston, either.
Grove City has slightly longer and crappier winters than we do here, but the worst of ours last only about six weeks. While the rest of the country is roasting, we in the Laurel Highlands and foothills enjoy nice summer evenings which top out in the low 80's, usually less, more fireflies than mosquitoes, white water rafting, hunting, fishing and camping. And many of us like the fact that there is little to do at night other than shopping the deli at Giant Eagle or picking up a frosty at Wendy's.
If you really can't stand the quiet life, Pittsburgh is only an hour's drive away, same as GCC.
Another plus: We are trending conservative big time. In 1984, Walter Mondale managed to eek out a narrow win in the Reagan landslide. Just 24 years later, ObaMao barely cracked 40% and we were one of only two major areas of the country where the GOP presidential ticket actually polled better than it did in 2004.
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