It looks like Texas is growing faster than any other state in the United States. According to the Texas State Data Center, Texas grew by more than 3,000,000 people between 2000 and 2007. Even California and Florida were unable to match that kind of growth. Texas current population was 23,904,380 in 2007. It is expected that by 2040 the Texas population will be 43,581,928. That's an additional 19,000,000!
In fact, according to U.S. Census data, Texas had four cities in the top ten cities with the most actual growth. These cities are Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. Texas also had three cities in the top 11 in largest growth percentage. They were McKinney, Denton and Fort Worth, with Fort Worth being the largest city to crack the top twenty (usually percentage growth goes down as a city grows larger). Here are the top 11 cities in growth percentage:
1. New Orleans (13.8 percent)
2. Victorville, Calif. (9.5 percent)
3. McKinney (8 percent)
4. North Las Vegas, Nev. (7.4 percent)
5. Cary, N.C. (7.3 percent)
6. Killeen (6.5 percent)
7. Port St. Lucie, Fla. (6.3 percent)
8. Gilbert, Ariz., (5.8 percent)
9. Clarksville, Tenn. (4.8 percent)
10. Denton (4.7 percent)
11. Fort Worth (4.5 percent)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007
2. Victorville, Calif. (9.5 percent)
3. McKinney (8 percent)
4. North Las Vegas, Nev. (7.4 percent)
5. Cary, N.C. (7.3 percent)
6. Killeen (6.5 percent)
7. Port St. Lucie, Fla. (6.3 percent)
8. Gilbert, Ariz., (5.8 percent)
9. Clarksville, Tenn. (4.8 percent)
10. Denton (4.7 percent)
11. Fort Worth (4.5 percent)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007
I suppose that is something to be proud of, but frankly I'm a bit worried. With it's current population, Texas is already starting to experience some water problems. How on earth are we going to have enough water to sustain the enormous predicted growth?
With most of the growth going to the urban centers, are we going to turn West Texas and the Panhandle into uninhabitable deserts by shipping their water to the large cities? There is already talk of piping water from the Ogallala Aquifer to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, in spite of the fact that the aquifer has already shown a 10% depletion just from agriculture irrigation.
The year 2040 is only 32 years away. It is time for the Texas Legislature to seriously address our future water needs. Any delay could have serious reprecussions.
Speaking of water issues reminds me of your post about T. Boone and his private water district scheme.
ReplyDeleteWe are seeing a commercial here with T. talking like he's running for office and hinting at a grand new plan of some sort. Any idea what all that's about?
Are you seeing that commercial in Texas, too?
Mick
Yes, that commercial is running in Texas also. It's about his plan for energy independence.
ReplyDeleteActually, it's not a bad plan. He says straight up that we cannot drill ourselves out of the mess we've put ourselves in.
He wants to run cars off of natural gas, which is cleaner and more plentiful in this country.
He also wants to generate more electricity using wind power.
Of course, his motives are not altruistic. He's in the process of building a huge wind farm here in the Panhandle.
But even so, it's a better plan than any other Republican or oilman has come up with.
Come come now, we all know how Texas will solve its water problems. It will solve its water problems the same way that Israel has solved its water problems -- by taking the water away from those filthy darkies because of course only good upstanding white folk need swimming pools and daily showers. The only question shall be how Texas does this. Most likely it will be by raising water rates in water districts primarily occupied by dark-skinned people to the point where low-income households can only afford water for drinking and cooking. Texas. The Free Market State. Y'all don't come back now, y'hear?
ReplyDelete- Badtux the Snarky Penguin