Topics

Data & Maps

Surveys & Programs

Resource Library

Partners Researchers Educators Survey Respondents

News NAICS Codes Jobs About Us Contact Us Help

View All Topics and Subtopics Index A to Z

Age and Sex Business and Economy Education Emergency Management / Disasters Employment Families and Living Arrangements Geography Health Hispanic Origin Housing Income and Poverty International Trade Migration/Geographic Mobility Population Population Estimates Public Sector Race Redistricting Research Voting and Registration

Explore data on data.census.gov View all data resources

Census Academy Combining Data Data Equity Tools Data Tools and Apps Datasets Developers Experimental Data Products Interactive Maps Mapping Files Profiles Related Sites Software Tables Training and Workshops Visualizations

Survey Help View all Surveys & Programs

2020 Census 2030 Census American Community Survey (ACS) American Housing Survey (AHS) Annual Business Survey (ABS) Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM) Census of Governments County Business Patterns (CBP) Current Population Survey (CPS) Economic Census International Programs Metro and Micro Areas Population Estimates Population Projections Small Area Income and Poverty Statistics of U.S. Businesses Survey of Business Owners Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)

View all library resources Glossary

America Counts: Stories Audio Blogs By the Numbers Facts for Features Fact Sheets Infographics and Visualizations Photos Publications Spotlights Stats for Stories Training (Census Academy) Videos Working Papers

New Census Bureau Estimates Show Counties in South and West Lead Nation in Population Growth

Skip Navigation

Image: 2018-2022 American Community Survey Estimates Now Available

For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 18, 2019

New Census Bureau Estimates Show Counties in South and West Lead Nation in Population Growth

April 18, 2019

Press Release Number CB19-55

Texas Counties Take Four of the Top Ten Spots in Numeric Growth

APRIL 18, 2019 — Counties with the largest numeric growth are all located in the south and the west, with counties in Texas taking four out of the top 10 spots according to new U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released today. By metropolitan area, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas, had the largest numeric growth with a gain of 131,767 (1.8 percent) in 2018, followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. with an increase of 96,268 (2.0 percent). Migration, both domestic and international, as well as natural increase contributed to the growth in each of these areas, with natural increase serving as the largest source of population growth in Dallas and domestic migration serving as the largest source in Phoenix.

“One interesting trend we are seeing this year is that metro areas not among the most populous are ranked in the top 10 for population growth,” said Sandra Johnson, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. “Though no new metro areas moved into the top 10 largest areas, Phoenix, Seattle, Austin, and Orlando all experienced numeric increases in population since 2010, rivaling growth in areas with much larger populations. This trend is consistent with the overall growth we are seeing in the south and the west.”

Among counties with a population of 20,000 or more, Williams County, N.D., was the fastest-growing county by percentage, increasing by 5.9 percent between 2017 and 2018 (from 33,395 to 35,350). The rapid growth Williams County, N.D., experienced was due mainly to net domestic migration (1,471) in 2018. The county also grew between 2017 and 2018 by natural increase (427) and international migration (52).

Of the other nine fastest-growing counties, all experienced positive domestic migration. All but Brunswick, N.C., and Hood, Texas, experienced growth through natural increase (having more births than deaths), and only Brunswick, N.C., had negative net international migration.

The statistics released today provide population estimates, rankings and components of change for the nation’s 390 metropolitan statistical areas, 555 micropolitan statistical areas, and 3,142 counties, as well as population estimates and rankings for Puerto Rico’s 78 municipios.

Additional Highlights:

Percent Population Change by County and Municipio, 2017-2018

Counties

Growth and decline:

Out of 3,142 counties, 1,739 (55.3 percent) gained population between 2017 and 2018. Twelve counties (0.4 percent) experienced no change in population during this time, while the remaining 1,391 (44.3 percent) lost population.
Between 2010 and 2018, 1,481 (47.1 percent) counties gained population and 1,661 (52.9 percent) lost population.

Natural increase:

Out of 3,142 counties, 1,757 (55.9 percent) counties experienced natural increase in 2018. This is down from 1,858 (59.1 percent) in 2017.

Total net migration:

Out of 3,142 counties, 1,640 (52.2 percent) counties showed positive total net migration in 2018, meaning more people moved into the county than moved out. This is roughly equivalent to the number of counties with positive net migration in 2017 (1,641 or 52.2 percent).

Numeric Population Change by County and Municipio, 2010-2018

Municipios

Between 2017 and 2018, all 78 municipios in Puerto Rico decreased in population. Between 2010 and 2018, all but one municipio lost population. Gurabo Municipio increased from 45,371 in 2010 to 46,068 in 2018, a gain of 697 residents (1.5 percent).
The largest numeric population decreases between 2017 and 2018 were in San Juan Municipio at -15,123 (-4.5 percent), followed by Bayamón Municipio (-8,013; -4.5 percent) and Ponce Municipio (-6,705; -4.8 percent).
Among municipios with a population of 20,000 or more, the largest percent population decreases between 2017 and 2018 were in Lares Municipio at -4.8 percent (-1,242), followed by Ponce Municipio (-6,705; -4.8 percent) and Fajardo Municipio (-1,456; -4.7 percent).

Percent Population Change by Metro/Micro Area: 2017-2018

Metropolitan Areas

Growth:

Two of the 10 fastest-growing metro areas in 2018 are in Texas: Midland, Texas (first), with a growth of 4.3 percent (7,383) and Odessa, Texas (fifth), with a growth of 3.2 percent (4,951). Positive domestic migration contributed to the growth in both areas. Florida and Utah also each contains two of the fastest-growing metro areas in 2018.

Decline:

Of the 390 metro areas within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 102 (26.2 percent) experienced population decline in 2018.
All metro areas within Puerto Rico decreased between 2017 and 2018, including Ponce, Puerto Rico (-4.6 percent); Mayagüez, Puerto Rico (-4.3 percent); Aguadilla-Isabela, Puerto Rico (-4.0 percent); San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, Puerto Rico (-3.9 percent); and Guayama, Puerto Rico (-3.8 percent).
The five fastest-decreasing metro areas (excluding those within Puerto Rico) were Charleston, W.Va. (-1.6 percent); Pine Bluff, Ark. (-1.5 percent); Farmington, N.M. (-1.5 percent); Danville, Ill. (-1.2 percent); and Watertown-Fort Drum, N.Y. (-1.2 percent). The population decreases were primarily due to negative net domestic migration.

Numeric Population Change by Metro/Micro Area: 2010-2018

Micropolitan Areas

Of the 555 micropolitan areas, 267 (48.1 percent) gained population between 2017 and 2018. Since 2010, 256 (46.1 percent) have gained population.

In the coming months, the Census Bureau will release 2018 population estimates for cities and towns, national, state- and county-level housing unit estimates, as well as national, state and county population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin.

###

Table 1. Top 10 Most Populous Counties: 2018
State	County	April 1, 2010 (Estimates base)	July 1, 2017	July 1, 2018
California	Los Angeles County	9,818,672	10,118,759	10,105,518
Illinois	Cook County	5,195,026	5,204,502	5,180,493
Texas	Harris County	4,093,188	4,664,159	4,698,619
Arizona	Maricopa County	3,817,359	4,329,580	4,410,824
California	San Diego County	3,095,349	3,325,468	3,343,364
California	Orange County	3,010,274	3,179,950	3,185,968
Florida	Miami-Dade County	2,498,013	2,744,878	2,761,581
Texas	Dallas County	2,366,683	2,622,799	2,637,772
New York	Kings County	2,504,717	2,596,385	2,582,830
California	Riverside County	2,189,765	2,417,224	2,450,758

Table 2. Top 10 Counties in Numeric Growth: 2017 to 2018
Rank	State	County	April 1, 2010 (Estimates base)	July 1, 2017	July 1, 2018	Numeric Growth
1	Arizona	Maricopa County	3,817,359	4,329,580	4,410,824	81,244
2	Nevada	Clark County	1,951,271	2,183,310	2,231,647	48,337
3	Texas	Harris County	4,093,188	4,664,159	4,698,619	34,460
4	Texas	Collin County	782,220	971,393	1,005,146	33,753
5	California	Riverside County	2,189,765	2,417,224	2,450,758	33,534
6	Washington	King County	1,931,292	2,204,229	2,233,163	28,934
7	Florida	Orange County	1,145,954	1,352,933	1,380,645	27,712
8	Texas	Tarrant County	1,810,655	2,057,468	2,084,931	27,463
9	Texas	Bexar County	1,714,772	1,958,841	1,986,049	27,208
10	Florida	Hillsborough County	1,229,178	1,410,115	1,436,888	26,773

Table 3. Top 10 Counties in Percentage Growth: 2017 to 2018 (For counties that were greater than or equal to 20,000 people in 2017 and 2018)
Rank	State	County	April 1, 2010 (Estimates base)	July 1, 2017	July 1, 2018	Percent Growth
1	North Dakota	Williams County	22,399	33,395	35,350	5.9
2	Texas	Comal County	108,485	140,790	148,373	5.4
3	Texas	Kaufman County	103,363	122,845	128,622	4.7
4	North Carolina	Brunswick County	107,429	130,735	136,744	4.6
5	Florida	Walton County	55,043	68,275	71,375	4.5
6	Texas	Midland County	136,872	165,386	172,578	4.3
7	Florida	Osceola County	268,683	352,661	367,990	4.3
8	Florida	St. Johns County	190,034	243,928	254,261	4.2
9	Texas	Hood County	51,163	58,154	60,537	4.1
10	Georgia	Jackson County	60,457	67,716	70,422	4.0

Table 4. Top 10 Counties in Numeric Growth: 2010 to 2018
State	County	April 1, 2010 (Estimates base)	July 1, 2017	July 1, 2018	Numeric Growth
Texas	Harris County	4,093,188	4,664,159	4,698,619	605,431
Arizona	Maricopa County	3,817,359	4,329,580	4,410,824	593,465
Washington	King County	1,931,292	2,204,229	2,233,163	301,871
California	Los Angeles County	9,818,672	10,118,759	10,105,518	286,846
Nevada	Clark County	1,951,271	2,183,310	2,231,647	280,376
Texas	Tarrant County	1,810,655	2,057,468	2,084,931	274,276
Texas	Bexar County	1,714,772	1,958,841	1,986,049	271,277
Texas	Dallas County	2,366,683	2,622,799	2,637,772	271,089
Florida	Miami-Dade County	2,498,013	2,744,878	2,761,581	263,568
California	Riverside County	2,189,765	2,417,224	2,450,758	260,993

Table 5. Top 10 Counties in Percentage Growth: 2010 to 2018 (For counties that were greater than or equal to 20,000 people in 2017 and 2018)
Rank	State	County	April 1, 2010 (Estimates base)	July 1, 2017	July 1, 2018	Percent Growth
1	North Dakota	Williams County	22,399	33,395	35,350	57.8
2	Texas	Hays County	157,099	214,277	222,631	41.7
3	Utah	Wasatch County	23,525	31,975	33,240	41.3
4	Florida	Sumter County	93,420	124,933	128,754	37.8
5	Florida	Osceola County	268,683	352,661	367,990	37.0
6	Texas	Comal County	108,485	140,790	148,373	36.8
7	Texas	Kendall County	33,411	43,984	45,641	36.6
8	Iowa	Dallas County	66,138	87,215	90,180	36.4
9	Georgia	Forsyth County	175,511	228,588	236,612	34.8
10	Texas	Fort Bend County	584,690	766,136	787,858	34.7

Table 6. Top 10 Most Populous Metropolitan Areas: 2018
Rank	Name	April 1, 2010 (Estimates base)	July 1, 2017	July 1, 2018
1	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	19,566,527	19,998,951	19,979,477
2	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	12,828,946	13,298,709	13,291,486
3	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	9,461,539	9,520,784	9,498,716
4	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	6,426,222	7,407,944	7,539,711
5	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	5,920,487	6,905,695	6,997,384
6	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	5,636,363	6,200,001	6,249,950
7	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	5,566,294	6,149,687	6,198,782
8	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	5,965,705	6,078,451	6,096,372
9	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	5,286,750	5,874,249	5,949,951
10	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	4,552,598	4,844,597	4,875,390

Table 7. Top 10 Metropolitan Areas in Numeric Growth: 2017 to 2018
Rank	Name	April 1, 2010 (Estimates base)	July 1, 2017	July 1, 2018	Numeric Growth
1	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	6,426,222	7,407,944	7,539,711	131,767
2	Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	4,193,127	4,761,694	4,857,962	96,268
3	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	5,920,487	6,905,695	6,997,384	91,689
4	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	5,286,750	5,874,249	5,949,951	75,702
5	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	2,134,402	2,512,917	2,572,962	60,045
6	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	3,439,805	3,884,469	3,939,363	54,894
7	Austin-Round Rock, TX	1,716,321	2,115,230	2,168,316	53,086
8	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	4,224,966	4,570,427	4,622,361	51,934
9	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	2,783,462	3,091,225	3,142,663	51,438
10	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	5,636,363	6,200,001	6,249,950	49,949

Table 8. Top 10 Metropolitan Areas in Percentage Growth: 2017 to 2018
Rank	Name	April 1, 2010 (Estimates base)	July 1, 2017	July 1, 2018	Percent Growth
1	Midland, TX	141,671	170,948	178,331	4.3
2	Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC	376,555	463,386	480,891	3.8
3	St. George, UT	138,115	165,859	171,700	3.5
4	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	602,098	685,830	708,009	3.2
5	Odessa, TX	137,136	157,173	162,124	3.2
6	The Villages, FL	93,420	124,933	128,754	3.1
7	Greeley, CO	252,847	305,274	314,305	3.0
8	Boise City, ID	616,566	710,080	730,426	2.9
9	Bend-Redmond, OR	157,730	186,807	191,996	2.8
10	Provo-Orem, UT	526,885	617,751	633,768	2.6

Table 9. Top 10 Metropolitan Areas in Numeric Growth: 2010 to 2018
Rank	Name	April 1, 2010 (Estimates base)	July 1, 2017	July 1, 2018	Numeric Growth
1	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	6,426,222	7,407,944	7,539,711	1,113,489
2	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	5,920,487	6,905,695	6,997,384	1,076,897
3	Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	4,193,127	4,761,694	4,857,962	664,835
4	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	5,286,750	5,874,249	5,949,951	663,201
5	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	5,566,294	6,149,687	6,198,782	632,488
6	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	5,636,363	6,200,001	6,249,950	613,587
7	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	3,439,805	3,884,469	3,939,363	499,558
8	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	12,828,946	13,298,709	13,291,486	462,540
9	Austin-Round Rock, TX	1,716,321	2,115,230	2,168,316	451,995
10	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	2,134,402	2,512,917	2,572,962	438,560

Table 10. Top 10 Metropolitan Areas in Percentage Growth: 2010 to 2018
Rank	Name	April 1, 2010 (Estimates base)	July 1, 2017	July 1, 2018	Percent Growth
1	The Villages, FL	93,420	124,933	128,754	37.8
2	Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC	376,555	463,386	480,891	27.7
3	Austin-Round Rock, TX	1,716,321	2,115,230	2,168,316	26.3
4	Midland, TX	141,671	170,948	178,331	25.9
5	St. George, UT	138,115	165,859	171,700	24.3
6	Greeley, CO	252,847	305,274	314,305	24.3
7	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	618,754	739,506	754,610	22.0
8	Bend-Redmond, OR	157,730	186,807	191,996	21.7
9	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	2,134,402	2,512,917	2,572,962	20.5
10	Raleigh, NC	1,130,488	1,334,342	1,362,540	20.5