https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
Banking Technology
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Expert Insights
    • Back
    • Expert Insights
    • Commentaries
    • Smart Cities Council
    • Co-op Solutions
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • American City & County Awards
    • Events
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Expert Insights
    • Back
    • Commentaries
    • Smart Cities Council
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • American City & County Awards
    • Events
    • Municipal Cost Index
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to AC&C
    • Manage AC&C Subscription
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com

Public Works & Utilities


Article

Cities growing faster than suburbs

Cities growing faster than suburbs

Since 2011, many of the largest U.S. metro areas grew faster than their suburbs, a reversal of the decades-long trend of suburb-dominated regional growth patterns.
  • Written by Derek Prall
  • 25th June 2014

Since 2011, many of the largest U.S. metro areas grew faster than their suburbs, a reversal of the decades-long trend of suburb-dominated regional growth patterns.

William Frey, senior fellow at the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institute says this surge in urban growth could be a consequence of the collapse of the suburban housing market and the aftermath of the Great Recession.

Adding to the momentum, cities such as Austin Texas, Charlotte, and Denver have economies and amenities that are attractive to young professionals – those making up a large portion of potential movers. Frey says although the numbers have slowed slightly from 2012 to 2013, urban growth should not be discredited as a passing trend.

So which cities are growing faster than their suburbs and vice-versa? The Atlantic reports that from 2012 to 2013 the metro area with the largest primary city growth relative to its suburbs was New Orleans, where the city grew 2.4 percent compared to 0.5 percent growth for its suburbs. Much of this growth can be attributed to post-Katrina reconstruction, according to The Atlantic.

Other cities outpacing their surrounding suburbs include:


  • Austin, Texas
  • Charlotte, N.C.
  • Seattle
  • Minneapolis-St.Paul
  • Columbus
  • Richmond
  • Denver
  • Washington DC
  • San Diego
  • Raleigh, N.C.
  • Boston
  • New York
  • Oklahoma City
  • Sacramento
  • Tampa, Fla.
  • Orlando, Fla.
  • San Jose, Calif.
  • Los Angeles
  • Philadelphia

The Atlantic found suburban growth outpaced urban growth in traditionally sprawl-oriented Sunbelt metros such as Jacksonville, Houston, Las Vegas and Nashville. Rustbelt metros saw suburban sprawl as well, including Detroit, Baltimore, Indianapolis and Cleveland. San Francisco’s suburbs, too, saw more growth than the city center.

Richard Florida, senior editor at The Atlantic, agrees with Frey that city growth is not just a flash in the pan. Despite recent fluctuations, the fact remains that from 2012 to 2013, city growth remained higher than suburban growth in a third of all large metros.  It’s true that this number has decreased from 2011 to 2012’s figure of 27 metros, but the number remains significantly higher than it was in the past decade, where just five large metros saw their urban centers increase faster than their suburbs.

“The era of rapid suburbanization at the expense of city vitality may, at long last, have come to a close,” Florida writes.

If you want to learn more, you might be interested in The End of the Suburbs, one of American City & County’s recent selections for the Leadership Book Club.

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on Youtube

Tags: News Public Works & Utilities Article

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

White Papers


What is Your Plan for Cybersecurity?

5th February 2019

5 Best Practices for Utilizing GIS Data

5th February 2019

City of Stamford Saves $1-Million Via Car Sharing

1st February 2019
view all

Events


Twitter


AmerCityCounty

A new #report ranks the 52 American #metropolitan areas with over 1 million residents based on their… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

14th February 2019
AmerCityCounty

Today, we announced the six winners of American #City & #County's 2018 Crown Communities awards! Congratulations to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

12th February 2019
AmerCityCounty

The @CityOfNOLA #CityCouncil is calling for the @NFL to review its rules after the @Saints lost the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

29th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

Is your #city among #UHaul's top 25 #GrowthCities for 2018? buff.ly/2S8hptr https://t.co/rI4x0Lcdql

25th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

The personal information for approximately 1,470 #Knoxville, Tenn. #government employees was inadvertently posted o… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

25th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

““Seconded” staffers, or temporary #procurement professionals at #DallasAreaRapidTransit handle varying heavy workl… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd January 2019
AmerCityCounty

As the longest #GovernmentShutdown in U.S. history continues with no sign of abating, city governments are stepping… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

15th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

Florida Governor @RonDeSantisFL formally suspended #BrowardCounty, Fla. Sheriff Scott Israel on Jan. 11, following… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

15th January 2019

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Expert Insights

Learn from experts in the public and private sectors about best practices and how to optimize your government’s operations.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

American City and County

© American City and County 2019. All rights reserved.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service

Related Links

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

Follow us

Websites are now required by law to gain your consent before applying cookies. We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Parts of the website may not work as expected without them. By closing or ignoring this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
X