Population

Land Use

The Bay Area’s Fastest Growing Cities and Towns

May 31, 2018 By Chirag Rabari
Aerial view of development in Vacaville
Karl Nielsen

The Census Bureau last week released 2017 population estimates for the nation’s cities and towns, showing that cities in the South (especially Texas) and the West are posting the largest gains. 

What about closer to home here in the Bay Area?  Which jurisdictions are seeing the fastest growth in percentage terms and which jurisdictions are seeing the largest numeric increases in population? Although none of the nine county region’s cities and towns made any of the nationwide “Top 15” lists, a number of locations saw steady or even – dare we say it – moderate growth.

Since 2016, this population growth, both numerically and in percentage terms, has been especially concentrated in Solano, Contra Costa and Alameda counties.  Keep reading to find out more! Read More

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Census
Population
Policy

Fun With U.S. Census Data: Bay Area Highlights from the 2017 Local Population Estimates

March 22, 2018 By Chirag Rabari
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau today released their 2017 local population estimates and – as usual – there’s a smorgasbord of fascinating data on where and how the U.S. population changed between July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2017.

From the press release:

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area’s 146,000-population increase last year was the most of any metro area and Maricopa County, Ariz., saw a population increase of nearly 74,000 — the most of any county last year — according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s July 1, 2017, population estimates released today. The statistics provide population estimates and components of change for the nation’s 382 metropolitan statistical areas, 551 micropolitan statistical areas and 3,142 counties… 

For an interesting perspective breaking down the nation's recent population growth through the lens of 2016 Presidential Election results, check out this piece from Jed Kolko over at CityLab: Red Counties + Blue Folks = Purple? Reading the New Census Data.

Closer to home, the story is much more “slow and steady.”  Keep reading on for more detail on how the Bay Area's nine counties fared over the last year. Read More

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Census
Population