As we're bombarded almost daily with news of the explosive growth of our fair little burg, it's easy forget that there are areas around us growing even faster. According to a recent story on Lawnstarter, population growth in "Texas Triangle"—an area that measures several thousand square miles and includes Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio metro areas—is set to explode in the next 15 years.
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and forecasts from the Texas Office of the State Demographer, Lawnstarter's John Egan concludes that the area will likely grow by more than 3.5 million between now and 2030. That means the entire area could become one giant metropolis with a 19 percent growth in residents—from 18.14 million in 2015 to 21.65 million in 2030—bringing it close to the current population of the current population of the New York City metro area (20.18 million people).
Egan also reports that Steve Murdock, director of the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University in Houston, predicts an even more intense population increase, putting Texas Triangle’s population at nearly 24 million by 2030—that means adding 6 million people, an increase of more than 30 percent, from 2015 to 2030. Under Murdock's scenario, the Austin area’s population would reach 2,854,501 by 2030.
Of course, if the municipalities and counties involved don't address infrastructure concerns, including serious issues in the areas transportation, water supply, education, and high housing market costs, Egan notes, people will probably be a lot less keen on moving or staying in the area, in which case the predicted growth would be considerably less.
• What Will the Texas Triangle Look Like in 2030? [Lawnstarter]
• Hobby Center for the Study of Texas website