Population spikes in many of the nation’s largest cities were reported in new figures from the U.S. Census. The 2011 estimates, released in June, indicate population is increasing in most large cities faster than the nation as a whole, and the growth appears to be accelerating. Sizable gains were reported over the year particularly in areas of the Southwest and those with stronger economies.
The new figures, which estimate population from April 2010 to July 2011, showed two-thirds of cities with more than 100,000 residents grew faster than the national rate of 0.92 percent, according to analysis by Governing magazine. Only 19 of these 277 cities recorded a net population loss.
New York City added nearly 70,000 residents over the year for the largest raw increase, followed by Houston and San Antonio. Texas experienced the nation’s largest percentage jump in total population (excluding the District of Columbia), up 2.1 percent for the year.
The population shift in many cities is more rapid than gains experienced in recent years. Populations for 52 of the 73 largest U.S. cities rose at faster rates last year than the average annual growth from 2000 to 2010. Even cities that lost population over the decade recorded yearly increases. Chicago, Memphis and Oakland are among cities showing slight gains after losing residents.
Although population swings are typically explained by migration from residents entering or leaving a locality and natural increases driven by fertility rates, the new figures may reflect many lured to areas by urban renaissance and employment opportunities combined with other workers who have remained immobile, often reluctant to sell their homes in the current housing market.