Seattle's booming economy is continuing to draw people, but Sun Belt metros are taking the growth sweepstakes
If you’ve been on another planet, the news that Seattle turned in the largest percentage growth among America’s 50 largest cities from 2012 to 2013 has caused considerable local angst. While good for boosters as a sign of the local boom, many worry about loss of our character, not to mention practical things such as traffic congestion and housing affordability.
Today, the Census Bureau had some “good” news for anxious Seattleites. Seven of the 50 fastest-growing metro areas from July 2013 to July 2014 were in Florida. Metro Seattle was far down the list in percentage increase, with an asterisk. Four of the top 20 metro areas were growing in the Carolinas. Among counties, Texas (with 11) and California (10) were the biggest gainers.
Now, these are metros and counties, not cities. Those numbers have yet to be released.
Here’s the asterisk: While Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue didn’t make a big percentage leap, it still came in as the 10th fastest-growing major metro numerically, adding 57,857. Also, King County ranked No. 7, adding 33,000. That’s plenty of newcomers to absorb. But it is also a sign of the economy’s continued vibrancy.
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Metro Houston was first, with 156,371, followed by Dallas, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Two lessons present themselves. First, as the economy gains strength parts of the Sun Belt is finally healing in many places and attracting more residents (Texas, with oil, never really broke stride). Second, metros with the strongest economies will attract the most people. So Lesser Seattle still ain’t gonna happen.
You can read the detailed tables here.
Today’s Econ Haiku:
Microsoft steps up
With contractor policies
A humane window
You can read all my columns and blog posts at www.seattletimes.com/author/jon-talton/