I know Doug and Decious have already posted this, but I thought I'd organize it here for you to look at:

Seems like there's some confusion on population estimates for Tulsa, OKC, and NOLA. Here are the latest estimates from the Census Bureau.
I'm using CSA figures, because I think they're a better estimation of the metro pop. Released March 16th, 2006, for July 1, 2005.
From www.census.gov (http://www.census.gov), http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-40.xls
http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-22.xls
http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro_general/List3.txt
http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro_general/List4.txt
http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro_general/List6.txt

---------------------------------------------------------------

OKC:
Oklahoma City, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area
Canadian County, OK
Cleveland County, OK
Grady County, OK
Lincoln County, OK
Logan County, OK
McClain County, OK
Oklahoma County, OK
Pott County, OK (Part of CSA but not MSA - part of Shawnee, OK Micropolitan Statistical Area)

Total Pop: 1,225,084

------------------------------------------------------------
Tulsa:
Tulsa, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area
Creek County, OK
Okmulgee County, OK
Osage County, OK
Pawnee County, OK
Rogers County, OK
Tulsa County, OK
Wagoner County, OK
Washington County (part of CSA but not MSA- part of Bartlesville, OK Micropolitan Statistical Area)

Total Pop: 936,864

------------------------------------------------------------------

NOLA: (Estimates were pre-Katrina, Have no idea what estimates would be now. They haven't been released.)
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Jefferson Parish, LA
Orleans Parish, LA
Plaquemines Parish, LA
St. Bernard Parish, LA
St. Charles Parish, LA
St. John the Baptist Parish, LA
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Washington Parish, LA (part of CSA but MSA - part of Bogalusa, LA Micropolitan Statistical Area)

Total Pop: 1,363,990

looks good. Hope OKC has a boom by 2010 -> is 600,000 city and 1.5M CMA too far off the mark???

The metro has grown by 75,000 people in the first half of the decade but is going to grow by 275,000 in the second half? I mean I hope so, but but that's a big jump.

The metro has grown by 75,000 people in the first half of the decade but is going to grow by 275,000 in the second half? I mean I hope so, but but that's a big jump.

Well, I think if we can just get over that hump, we'll start growing like other southwestern cities. Getting an NBA team helps quality of life issues, and is another selling piece to get corporations to locate here.

To have a jump that big, there would have to be a industry drive it. Don't forget that if an industry were to jump start a boom like that, the majority of the jobs will not be in that field (although a great number would be); they would be in support jobs. The health sciences could be that generator. The problem is, the Presby Health Foundation isn't building buildings fast enough. If they are 100% occupied, there is no where for companies to move into. We could try to lure them elsewhere in the city, but that defeats the purpuse behind having the health sciences district.

If we did in fact grow by 75,000 from 2000-2005, then I think we could expect to see growth of 100,000-150,000 by 2010. While the economy was good here beginning in 2000, and we had a lot of things going for us, we are in much better shape for 2006-2010. Oil & gas is booming, Devon and Chesapeake are adding people by the thousands, and word is getting out about OKC. We are now on exponentially more companies' list now that we are an "NBA city."

Anyway, it's all food for thought.

I actually work in the research park. I have a lab there. To some extent, Brian you're right, but I don't think the Presbyterian Health Foundation realized the research park would take off this quickly. They were really quite amazed when the first 2 buildings filled up as quickly as they did. It has really taken off. Mostly folks like myself have started our own labs there, apart from our jobs within the university.

The Sun Belt region of the United States is sucking many thousands of new residents to it like a vacuum due to other factors elsewhere.

Cost of housing in Oklahoma and Texas have remained reasonable. The cost of living hasn't gone up all that much either -well, not counting the cost of fuel and natural gas.

Living costs on the East and West Coasts have reached unreasonable levels passing boundaries of the profane. Many are selling while they can, taking their profits and coming to this part of the country. Others who want to be able to buy a home, but aren't millionaires, are moving to the Sun Belt as well.

Texas, Arizona and Nevada are drawing the most population. But Las Vegas has reached a point where its prices are now too high. Phoenix is hitting that boundary too. Many cities in Oklahoma and Texas still have real estate value deemed very underpriced and attractive.

While it may seem unlikely for OKC to gain 200,000 residents over the next 4 or 5 years, keep in mind NYC metro is losing over 200,000 residents in net population every year (they're actually losing more if you don't count immigrants moving there). LA metro is losing 150,000 per year net. Chicago is losing a lot of people. So is Boston. Those folks on the move have got to move somewhere.