Texas cities continue growing populations
Texas cities again recorded some of the strongest population growth in the nation in a single year, new estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau show.
New Braunfels held fast to its second-place ranking among fastest growing U.S. cities of at least 50,000 people, increasing by 7.2 percent — a surge of almost 5,700 new residents — between July 2017 and July 2018.
It had occupied the same spot on the national list the previous year and in 2018 was outranked only by Buckeye, Ariz., which grew by 8.5 percent.
San Antonio, meanwhile, was ranked second among U.S. cities with the largest numeric increase in population between July 2017 and July 2018, slipping slightly from its top ranking last year.
The Alamo City saw an influx of 20,824 new residents during the year ending in mid-2018, pushing its population to more than 1.53 million. That’s a growth of 1.38 percent.
‘Quality of life’
Although Houston did not rank in either of the lists, fastest-growing or largest numerical increase, the Census found it continues to rank as the fourth most-populous city with a population of 2,325,502 as of July 1, 2018. The next-closest city was Phoenix, with 1.67 million.
The latest population estimates, released late Wednesday, don’t include any demographic detail or indicators on what’s driving the changes, but it’s likely that New Braunfels grew mostly due to people moving there from elsewhere in Texas or the country, based on Comal County census data released last month.
Those numbers showed more than 7,000 new residents moved to Comal County from other U.S. locations in that one-year period, while 148 people moved there from outside the country. Births barely outnumbered deaths.
New Braunfels Mayor Barron Casteel said his city’s strong ranking isn’t surprising.
“We are feeling that demand,” he said. “And we are trying to maintain that quality of life that we have here by adding new infrastructure, providing additional services. … We’re trying to add parks. We’re adding roads.”
Earlier this month, New Braunfels voters overwhelmingly approved a $120 million bond package. Most of it — more than $100 million — will go toward public safety and roads.
The state also is expanding a 7-mile stretch of Loop 337 to a four-lane divided highway in New Braunfels. Construction is expected to wrap in December, the mayor said.
“We are seeing a huge growth in younger generations, millennials,” Casteel said. “But we also have a lot of young families. We’ve got people moving to our community because it’s a style, a way of life.
Lauren Strack, 34, took an environmental education job in New Braunfels and soon grew tired of the heavy traffic in her drive from San Antonio, so she moved there at the start of 2018.
“I’d done that a lot, living on the East Coast, living outside D.C.,” Strack said. “That was part of why I left – because I didn’t want to spend two hours a day commuting. … And New Braunfels is a great community, so I decided to come up here.
Strack is renting an apartment, but hopes to buy a house in New Braunfels or somewhere in Comal County within the next year.
“The growth is part of why I’m looking to buy. … It feels like a good investment,” she said. “I do worry that if growth continues and I decide to wait a couple years to buy, I won’t be able to afford it anymore.”
Affordable housing
San Antonio’s continued high ranking among U.S. cities showing the largest numbers of new residents indicates sustained growth, state demographer Lloyd Potter said. Only cities of at least 50,000 residents are ranked.
Census data released about Bexar County last month showed births outnumbered deaths by almost 14,000 between July 2017 and July 2018. More than 13,000 new residents moved into Bexar County in that period. Almost 8,200 came from elsewhere in Texas or the country, while 5,128 people moved here from outside the United States.
The city’s rapid growth is continuing “as expected,” with record low unemployment, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said.
He noted the city has made strides in addressing its affordable housing needs in a market where demand outpaces supply. It’s also boosting street maintenance and preparing to launch newer transportation options to avoid “disastrous increases” in traffic congestion, he said, and continues to promote economic development in targeted industries that offer high-paying jobs.
“These are all issues that dramatic growth will bring to the forefront, and we are working to stay ahead of the curve,” Nirenberg said in a statement.
Herman Saatkamp, a retired university president, moved with his wife to San Antonio from out of state in spring 2017. They bought a house in the gated Oakwell Farms development. San Antonio had been a regular vacation spot for them over the years. Their daughter and two grandchildren also live here.
“In contrast to New Jersey, the sense of people working together, people getting along, a commitment to families and to individuals is really a highlight for us.”