While much of the West is enjoying ongoing growth, the population of nine cities across the country with more than one million people dropped by an average of 1.7% last year, according to a new Census Bureau release.
In a survey titled Fastest-Growing Cities are Still in the West and South, the Census Bureau noted that New York lost the largest number of people in the last year, enduring an overall decline of 3.5%, representing around 305,000 people.
Chicago, the largest city in the Midwest, saw its population decline by 1.6%, accounting for 45,000 people; while the two largest cities on the West Coast, Los Angeles and San Francisco, saw declines of 1% and 6.3% respectively. In raw numbers, the population of Los Angeles dropped by 41,000 people, while 55,000 people moved out of San Francisco.
Conversely, according to a Census Bureau release, “eight of the 15 fastest-growing cities or towns by percent change were in the West–with five in Arizona–and seven in the South.”
Growth in Arizona included an 8.9% jump in the cities of Queen Creek Town and an 8.6% increase in Buckeye. Casa Grande was up by 6.2%, with Goodyear, Arizona posting a 5.4% gain.
While larger Colorado has for decades been a population gainer, Denver lost 6,167 people for a marginal 0.9% decline. The city’s population now stands at 711,400, down from the earlier reported 715,500. That drop, according to the Denver Post, “reversed most of Denver’s entire prior-year population gain.”
Phoenix, on the other hand, was up by over 1%, adding 13,200 new people, to a previously reported 1,608,100.
In a statement, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego noted that the city was not only experiencing an increase in residents, but also “attracting global corporations, startups, and legacy companies.”
Albuquerque, also, was on the upside, with a current population of 564,600, up by around 2,000 over the previous count.
By Garry Boulard
