Population Growth for OKC

[PWitty]

I agree, Mary Fallin is an embarassment. But I wanted to comment on the population charts. Clicking the link to newgeography, I found that all metropolitan areas listed except for one (Philadelaphia at -0.01%) have experienced popultion growth from 2010 to 2013. For example, New York has gained 400,000 residents since 2010. Think about that. New York City has absorbed nearly as many residents as the entire population of OKC - in three years. American cities and suburbs are growing, because the entire population of the country is growing. We have one of the higher birth rates in the developed world, we have a lot of immigrants, and domestically people are leaving small towns for big cities. We imagine that people are leaving New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and St. Louis, and Buffalo, but in fact all of those metropoliltan areas are growing.

The data shown in the article actually showed overall population growth from 2010-2013 for every city on the list except for Buffalo and Cleveland. Philadelphia had a population growth of 1.06% over that time frame.

You're right that those cities all had overall population growth. But what that study shows as fact is that current US residents are leaving those cities more than other current US residents are moving there. Cities like NYC continue to grow because the rate of immigration and births are happening even faster. That doesn't change the fact that among current US residents who have the option, more people are choosing to leave than are choosing to arrive. Which is the whole point of the study.

[soonerguru]

The data shown in the article actually showed overall population growth from 2010-2013 for every city on the list except for Buffalo and Cleveland. Philadelphia had a population growth of 1.06% over that time frame.

You're right that those cities all had overall population growth. But what that study shows as fact is that current US residents are leaving those cities more than other current US residents are moving there. Cities like NYC continue to grow because the rate of immigration and births are happening even faster. That doesn't change the fact that among current US residents who have the option, more people are choosing to leave than are choosing to arrive. Which is the whole point of the study.

Many people are just bailing due to the high costs of living -- which have always been high in NYC but have become almost unsustainably high, unless you're willing to share a one-bedroom with three people or you're making millions as a hedge fund broker.

NYC would continue to grow unimpeded but it's getting maxed out. Parts of Brooklyn are "gentrifying" but are surrounded by crime-ridden housing projects. There's just not much more left for average folks to afford.

[Bellaboo]

I agree, Mary Fallin is an embarassment. But I wanted to comment on the population charts. Clicking the link to newgeography, I found that all metropolitan areas listed except for one (Philadelaphia at -0.01%) have experienced popultion growth from 2010 to 2013. For example, New York has gained 400,000 residents since 2010. Think about that. New York City has absorbed nearly as many residents as the entire population of OKC - in three years. American cities and suburbs are growing, because the entire population of the country is growing. We have one of the higher birth rates in the developed world, we have a lot of immigrants, and domestically people are leaving small towns for big cities. We imagine that people are leaving New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and St. Louis, and Buffalo, but in fact all of those metropoliltan areas are growing.

Not to be contrarian, but NYC lost over a quarter million population in a combined 2005 and 2009 according to census records. I remember during the financial crisis, there were stories how they couldn't leave fast enough.

[Spartan]

I agree, Mary Fallin is an embarassment. But I wanted to comment on the population charts. Clicking the link to newgeography, I found that all metropolitan areas listed except for one (Philadelaphia at -0.01%) have experienced popultion growth from 2010 to 2013. For example, New York has gained 400,000 residents since 2010. Think about that. New York City has absorbed nearly as many residents as the entire population of OKC - in three years. American cities and suburbs are growing, because the entire population of the country is growing. We have one of the higher birth rates in the developed world, we have a lot of immigrants, and domestically people are leaving small towns for big cities. We imagine that people are leaving New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and St. Louis, and Buffalo, but in fact all of those metropoliltan areas are growing.

Rust Belt cities are great on foreign migration. That said, I don't think it's that bad to be in a list with New York, Chicago, Cleveland, St Louis, Buffalo, and Providence. Those are great cities with high quality of life. Austria, Denmark, and Sweden are also losing population.

[RadicalModerate]

Unfortunately I believe you are correct. Marry Fallin really needs to go. We need a more progressive governor and my only hope is the urban populations really start to get more power than the rural and we can shed off some of this conservatism that plagues Oklahoma with more progressive thinkers(keep in mind, I consider myself more of conservative than anything) and get these small town thinkers out of power.

So, I "assume" you are in favor of proper and properly maintained sidewalks to prevent and encourage the end or the beginning of the advance or decline of Urban Sprawl . . ?

Stick around for another 40 years, make careful observations, and then get back to me on your conclusions . . . =)

In the meanwhile . . . Carpe Diem.
It's good for the soul.

(btw: define: "progressive" in terms of thinking and political reality. =)

[ljbab728]

In the meanwhile . . . Carpe Diem.
It's good for the soul.

Is that some kind of fish?

[bchris02]

Unfortunately I believe you are correct. Marry Fallin really needs to go. We need a more progressive governor and my only hope is the urban populations really start to get more power than the rural and we can shed off some of this conservatism that plagues Oklahoma with more progressive thinkers(keep in mind, I consider myself more of conservative than anything) and get these small town thinkers out of power.

I agree with this. Oddly enough however, I don't see the kind of urban/rural political divide between OKC/Tulsa and rural Oklahoma that you see in other urban areas in other states. Any idea why?

[PWitty]

I agree with this. Oddly enough however, I don't see the kind of urban/rural political divide between OKC/Tulsa and rural Oklahoma that you see in other urban areas in other states. Any idea why?

It exists in almost every large metro that is located in a republican state, and even some that aren't. I would almost say that divide exists between EVERY large metro and its respective state, unless the city is in a state that is small enough that there aren't many rural areas to begin with.

Heck, the rural areas in Upstate NY feel just as "old-fashioned" or conservative as any rural area I've been to in KS or OK. But nobody thinks about that because when they think about NY all they think about are NYC and Rochester/Buffalo. Nobody thinks about the rural areas of NY and their political views. But just because people don't consciously think about the rural/urban relationship in other states doesn't mean that they are any different.

[hoya]

I agree with this. Oddly enough however, I don't see the kind of urban/rural political divide between OKC/Tulsa and rural Oklahoma that you see in other urban areas in other states. Any idea why?

It exists, it's just a little bit further to the right. OKC and Tulsa are more liberal than the surrounding rural areas. Not enough to make them vote Democrat, but they are more liberal.

[mugofbeer]

I think Oklahoma will need to have new leadership, especially Governor, to really sustain growth outside of what is currently being driven by the energy industry. Things like this minimum wage increase ban taking control from local governments (and giving the state another black eye) plus our continued reluctance to properly fund education and infrastructure will eventually cause problems. Now is the time to take the growth and really invest in the state. It won't last .

If there are jobs and opportunities available, they will come. As far as a minimum wage ban, silly, but i doubt seriously anyone will base a decision to move here based on that. Businesses could very easily see it as a positive though most pay well over minimum anyway.

I will agree with you about education funding, however.

[Laramie]

2013 Population estimates for Metropolitan Oklahoma City +5.32% (1,319,677)

List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Plutonic Panda]

It seems we will over take Memphis and perhaps Jacksonville soon if this keeps up.

Also, Raleigh is really kicking ass. What is going over there? I don't hear much about it. They might overtake OKC if we don't grow even faster...

[Laramie]

It seems we will over take Memphis and perhaps Jacksonville soon if this keeps up.

Also, Raleigh is really kicking ass. What is going over there? I don't hear much about it. They might overtake OKC if we don't grow even faster...

Raleigh will overtake a number of cities; their airport is undergoing over $500 million in expansion and improvements:

Terminal C Renovation and Expansion at RDU International Airport

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[HangryHippo]

Raleigh will overtake a number of cities; their airport is undergoing over $500 million in expansion and improvements:

Terminal C Renovation and Expansion at RDU International Airport

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

Laramie, I believe that project was completed some time ago and it's now called Terminal 2. No matter, it is a beautiful facility and absolutely one of my favorite terminals. They did a wonderful job on it.

[Richard at Remax]

Research Triangle brought a ton of jobs and companies to Raleigh in the last 15 years. It might have slowed down a bit but that's the main reason for their high numbers

[bchris02]

The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill CSA functions as one metropolitan area. That area is neck and neck with Charlotte, though significantly less urban and centralized. It is really a true boomtown and is beyond comparison with OKC.

OKC will easily overtake Memphis and Jacksonville if trends continue.

[BG918]

North Carolina is attractive to people in the Midwest and Northeast. Lower cost of living and a healthy economy, and both mountains and ocean. They are like the Texas of the East Coast.

[bchris02]

North Carolina is attractive to people in the Midwest and Northeast. Lower cost of living and a healthy economy, and both mountains and ocean. They are like the Texas of the East Coast.

Agree with this. Charlotte has the feel of a mini-Dallas and the Triangle is a mixture of Austin and San Jose.

[Rover]

North Carolina benefits from being an outlier of major population centers. The cost of living and doing business is lower than the bigger urban areas but shipping and transportation costs to access the larger populations are still low enough to make location in NC a net benefit. And, with all due respect to the zealot new urbanists, many choose to live the lifestyle vs crowded and expensive cities. With modern technology and transportation, it isn't necessary to be in NYC or Chicago to be efficient.

The triangle grows because it values education and provides a high quality educated work force for high paying jobs. Charlotte has banking, and access to capital is a major growth catalyst. Those are things OKC needs to emphasize..education at all levels as a priority and availability of investment capital. We need to leverage our natural resources while we have them and invest back into growth....not keep cutting as per tea partiests. There is a time to save and a time to invest. This is a time in OK and OKCs history we need to invest so we can save when we really need to.

[soonerguru]

North Carolina benefits from being an outlier of major population centers. The cost of living and doing business is lower than the bigger urban areas but shipping and transportation costs to access the larger populations are still low enough to make location in NC a net benefit. And, with all due respect to the zealot new urbanists, many choose to live the lifestyle vs crowded and expensive cities. With modern technology and transportation, it isn't necessary to be in NYC or Chicago to be efficient.

The triangle grows because it values education and provides a high quality educated work force for high paying jobs. Charlotte has banking, and access to capital is a major growth catalyst. Those are things OKC needs to emphasize..education at all levels as a priority and availability of investment capital. We need to leverage our natural resources while we have them and invest back into growth....not keep cutting as per tea partiests. There is a time to save and a time to invest. This is a time in OK and OKCs history we need to invest so we can save when we really need to.

It's really astonishing and sad that all of our public services are being starved while our state is having a significant energy boom and low unemployment. OKC's economy is one of the best in the nation and Tulsa is not far behind, but our leadership insists on a poverty mentality for our education system. If this is how they approach things when times are good, I shudder to think how bad it could get here in the next economic hiccup.

Common education is not being invested in. Higher education is being cut off from state funding, forcing students to pay disproportionately compared to what previous generations paid to attain a basic college degree.

I've crunched numbers on the "tax cut" that has been passed by our governor, and it's chump change to me (and I am relatively high paid compared to most Oklahomans). This tax cut, which won't even take effect for two years, will create a future revenue crisis for Oklahoma.

Oklahomans need to think long and hard if this is the direction we want to continue as a state. We need new leadership.

[Plutonic Panda]

It's really astonishing and sad that all of our public services are being starved while our state is having a significant energy boom and low unemployment. OKC's economy is one of the best in the nation and Tulsa is not far behind, but our leadership insists on a poverty mentality for our education system. If this is how they approach things when times are good, I shudder to think how bad it could get here in the next economic hiccup.

Common education is not being invested in. Higher education is being cut off from state funding, forcing students to pay disproportionately compared to what previous generations paid to attain a basic college degree.

I've crunched numbers on the "tax cut" that has been passed by our governor, and it's chump change to me (and I am relatively high paid compared to most Oklahomans). This tax cut, which won't even take effect for two years, will create a future revenue crisis for Oklahoma.

Oklahomans need to think long and hard if this is the direction we want to continue as a state. We need new leadership.

Honestly our only threat to the progress we've made is ourselves at this point. We need to rise up and kick these monkeys we call the governor and legislators out. Nostreetville is 'that' way.

[bchris02]

Honestly our only threat to the progress we've made is ourselves at this point. We need to rise up and kick these monkeys we call the governor and legislators out. Nostreetville is 'that' way.

I know that in this falls midterm gubernatorial election I'll be voting Democrat for only the second time in my life. I can't support the extreme positions of the state GOP.

[bchris02]

Completely agree Rover. Developing a strong urban core is important but not everyone prefers that type of living. Many people want to live in a house with a yard. Charlotte has a very strong urban core but also has significant sprawl. The Research Triangle leans heavily toward suburban living. North Carolina is a more balanced state politically also. It leans conservative, but the Charlotte metro is pretty moderate and the Research Triangle is very liberal. I worry about the effect the extreme tea party conservatism is going to have on growth potential in Oklahoma, especially in the long term.

[KayneMo]

Using that Wikipedia chart, OKC was 10th in growth percentage wise with metros with a million or more people.
1. Austin +9.72%
2. Raleigh +7.43%
3. Houston +6.63%
4. San Antonio +6.30%
5. Orlando +6.25%
6. Denver +6.05%
7. Dallas-Fort Worth +5.99%
8. Washington DC +5.56%
9. Charlotte +5.34%
10. Oklahoma City +5.32%

[Laramie]

Oklahoma has about $500 million its rainy day fund coffers. Does it have to be raining to tap the fund & fix the state capitol building and complete construction of the American Indian Cultural Center Museum in OKC--the state owns this project & should finish it. We're in jeopardy of losing the $40 million in private donations & pledges already collected to match the state's portions. It's costly to let this center remain unfinished as costs to secure the site accumulates each year.

American Indian Cultural Center & Museum (AICCM)

Oklahoma City

Our city is experiencing an important phase of growth; this is not the time to stagnate that growth.

The rainy day fund has accumulated as a result of cuts, shifts, exchanges & transfers over the years to valuable programs like education. A percentage of funds the state receives from the state lottery & the Indian gaming casinos goes toward education. Once the Indian casinos & state lottery were approved; Oklahoma cut the general education funds earmarked for education replacing some of it with revenue taxes collected from the casinos & the state lottery. Does anyone know where we rank in this region (Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico) among states in per pupil funding for education?

Compare States Education Spending for 2014 - Charts

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.