EMBARGOED UNTIL: 10 A.M. EST, DECEMBER 31, 1997 (WEDNESDAY) Public Information Office CB97-212 301-457-3030/301-457-3670 (fax) 301-457-4067 (TDD) e-mail: pio@census.gov Marc Perry/Rodger Johnson 301-457-2419 Las Vegas Metro Area Leads Nation in Population Growth, Census Bureau Reports The Las Vegas, Nev.-Ariz. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country between 1990 and 1996 and Texas had four of the 10 fastest growing metropolitan areas, according to population estimates released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The Internet address for this information is http://www.census.gov/ population/www/estimates/popest.html. Selected parts of these tables are also available on paper listing PPL-88. Between April 1990 and July 1996, the Las Vegas MSA's population increased from 852,646 to 1,201,073 for a gain of 348,427, or 41 percent over the six-year period. "This growth has been fueled by substantial migration into the Las Vegas area during the 1990s," said Marc Perry, a Census Bureau demographer. "And when you factor in the births to these new residents, it adds up to an incredibly rapid increase in population." Ten Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Areas: 1990-1996 Rank Area Percent Increase 1 Las Vegas, Nev.-Ariz., MSA 40.9 2 Laredo, Texas, MSA 32.7 3 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas, MSA 29.2 4 Boise City, Idaho, MSA 25.9 5 Naples, Fla., MSA 23.7 6 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark., MSA 23.7 7 Austin-San Marcos, Texas, MSA 23.1 8 Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz., MSA 22.7 9 Provo-Orem, Utah, MSA 21.3 10 Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, Tx.,MSA 21.1 The Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif. Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA) gained nearly 1 million residents from 1990 to 1996 the largest numeric increase of any metropolitan area. The Atlanta, Ga., MSA; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, CMSA; Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Texas, CMSA, and Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz., MSA each added more than 500,000 persons. Ten Biggest Gainers Among Metropolitan Areas, 1990-1996 Rank Area Population Gain 1 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif., CMSA 963,626 2 Atlanta, Ga., MSA 581,730 3 Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, CMSA 537,279 4 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Texas, CMSA 522,399 5 Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz., MSA 508,205 6 Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W. Va., CMSA 438,124 7 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.- N.J.-Conn.-Pa., CMSA 388,843 8 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., CMSA 359,954 9 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif., CMSA 355,547 10 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash., CMSA 350,529 The New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.-Pa., CMSA remained the nation's largest metropolitan area in 1996, with nearly 20 million people. Nine other metropolitan areas had populations of more than 4 million in 1996. The 10 largest metropolitan areas were evenly distributed among the nation's four regions, with three each in the Northeast and South and two each in the Midwest and West. Ten Largest Metropolitan Areas, 1996 Rank Area Population 1 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.- N.J.-Conn.-Pa., CMSA 19,938,492 2 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif., CMSA 15,495,155 3 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., CMSA 8,599,774 4 Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W. Va., CMSA 7,164,519 5 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif., CMSA 6,605,428 6 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa.- N.J.-Del.-Md., CMSA 5,973,463 7 Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, Mass.-N.H.-Maine- Conn., CMSA 5,563,475 8 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich., CMSA 5,284,171 9 Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, CMSA 4,574,561 10 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, Texas, CMSA 4,253,428 The nation as a whole grew by 6.7 percent between April 1990 and July 1996, an increase of 16.6 million people. The country's 273 MSAs and CMSAs grew slightly faster at 6.9 percent, an increase of 13.6 million people. Four out of five Americans now live in metropolitan areas. The South and West are home to all 50 of the fastest growing metropolitan areas and to eight of 10 of those with the largest numerical increase. These two regions combined now account for 28 of the 47 metropolitan areas with 1 million or more residents.-X-The Census Bureau pre-eminent collector and provider of timely, relevant and quality data about the people and economy of the United States. In more than 100 surveys annually and 20 censuses a decade, evolving from the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau provides official information about America's people, businesses, industries and institutions.
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