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Jul 24, 2008
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U.S. Cities and Metro Areas: Census 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Overall, cities expanded rapidly during the 1990s, growing nearly twice as fast as in the 1980s. Western and southern cities grew the fastest, while urban industrial centers in the Midwest and Northeast declined in population. New York remained the country's largest city, however, passing the 8 million mark.

In 2000, 80.3% of Americans (226 million people) lived in metropolitan areas, up slightly from 79.8% (198.4 million people) in 1990. (A metropolitan area is a city plus the adjacent communities to which it is linked economically.) All of the metropolitan areas with populations of at least 5 million grew over the period, ranging from 29% for the Dallas metropolitan area to 5% for Philadelphia. The total population within metropolitan areas increased by 14%, while the nonmetropolitan population grew by 10%.

Top Ten U.S. Cities by Percent Population Change, 1990–2000

Rank Place name Population Change, 1990 to 2000
April 1, 2000 April 1, 1990 Number Percent
1. Augusta-Richmond County1, Ga. 199,775 44,639 155,136 347.5%
2. Gilbert, Ariz. 109,697 29,188 80,509 275.8
3. Vancouver, Wash. 143,560 46,380 97,180 209.5
4. Henderson, Nev. 175,381 64,942 110,439 170.1
5. North Las Vegas, Nev. 115,488 47,707 67,781 142.1
6. Athens-Clark County2, Ga. 101,489 45,734 55,755 121.9
7. Peoria, Ariz. 108,364 50,618 57,746 114.1
8. Pembroke Pines, Fla. 137,427 65,452 71,975 110.0
9. Chandler, Ariz. 176,581 90,533 86,048 95.0
10. Las Vegas, Nev. 478,434 258,295 220,139 85.2
1. In 2000, Richmond County and the incorporated place of Augusta-Richmond County are coextensive. The 1990 population is for the incorporated place of Augusta city before consolidation of the city and county governments.
2. In 2000, Clarke County and the incorporated place of Athens-Clarke County are coextensive. The 1990 population is for the incorporated place of Athens city before consolidation of the city and county governments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000; 1990 Census. Web: www.census.gov .

The Ten Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Areas, 1990–2000

Metropolitan area Population Change, 1990–2000
April 1, 1990 April 1, 2000 Number Percent
Las Vegas, Nev., Ariz. 852,737 1,563,282 710,545 83.3%
Naples, Fla. 152,099 251,377 99,278 65.3
Yuma, Ariz. 106,895 160,026 53,131 49.7
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex. 383,545 569,463 185,918 48.5
Austin-San Marcos, Tex. 846,227 1,249,763 403,536 47.7
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark. 210,908 311,121 100,213 47.5
Boise, Idaho 295,851 432,345 136,494 46.1
Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz. 2,238,480 3,251,876 1,013,396 45.3
Laredo, Tex. 133,239 193,117 59,878 44.9
Provo-Orem, Utah 263,590 368,536 104,946 39.8
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000; 1990 Census. Web: www.census.gov .

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