Population Growth for OKC

[josh]

Relax man.

1. I said it's a THEORY.

2. You're a Tulsan; you should understand. Tulsa World ultimately is just as cheerleady for Tulsa as the Oklahoman is at times for OKC.

3. Are you suggesting that the population trends from 2017 radically shifted in 2018? If so, why? I see no reason to indicate that they would.

To repeat, in 2017, OKC population increased (somewhat marginally). Tulsa's held pat (no increase in migration but a tiny net gain based on births and deaths). And the rural areas of Oklahoma continued to depopulate.

So, if you notice, the subject of this multiyear thread is OKC Population Growth. Not Oklahoma population growth. Most of us here would be running for the exits if we were not in one of the two metro areas. The state of the state is as bad as it has been in my lifetime.

As most people on this forum, I want OKC population growth figures. The Tulsa World provided no detail in that area for whatever reason. I think you would agree that it's likely OKC continued its marginal population growth while Tulsa held even and the rest of the state lost people. I'm basing this on recent history not the whims of a Tulsa World editor.

In 2017, OKC grew by 11,000. Tulsa grew by 3,000.

Both OKC and Tulsa have seen recent yearly decreases in yearly population.

OKC growth in 2015: 20,382 (+ 3,478)
OKC growth in 2016: 16,345 (- 4,037)
OKC growth in 2017: 11,274 (-5,071)

Tulsa growth in 2015: 10,974 (+ 4,115)
Tulsa growth in 2016: 7,257 (- 3,717)
Tulsa growth in 2017: 3,241 (- 4,016)

If those trends continued than OKC grew by 6,000 and Tulsa saw no growth or negative growth.

But if I had to guess, I’d say OKC grew by 7,000 and Tulsa grew by 2,000.

[BG918]

But if I had to guess, I’d say OKC grew by 7,000 and Tulsa grew by 2,000.

Yes marginal growth in the two metros nearly offset by losses in the rural counties.

Interesting map I found showing projected growth over the next 40 years. As you can see the OKC and Tulsa metro counties have 5-10% population gains (Canadian County the only one projected to be +10%) and generally surrounding the metros there are 0-5% gains and everywhere else has losses.



Like any population trends you have to take it with a grain of salt. This shows oil & gas activity driving high growth in areas like West Texas and Western North Dakota which as we've seen is very cyclical. Same for growth in Oklahoma counties like Woods, Alfalfa, and Major. Any oil downturn will halt growth in those areas.