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Denton is 9th fastest in growth
Among nation's large cities, population increase in top ten June 28, 2007
By Lowell Brown / Staff Writer, Denton Record Chronicle

The city that claims to be "North of Ordinary" has a new reason to brag.

Denton is the nation's ninth-fastest-growing large city, according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released today.

"It is good news because it says something about the fact that our community is well thought of and people want to bring their business, their industry and their residence here," Mayor Perry Mc Neill said. "The bad news is that with growth comes challenges."

Denton's population surged from 104,264 in July 2005 to 109,561 in July 2006, a rise of 5.1 percent, census estimates show.

That places Denton among the top 10 fastest-growing cities in the United States with populations of 100,000 or more. The city shares the list with two North Texas neighbors: McKinney (No. 2) and Grand Prairie (No. 6).

Ranking first is North Las Vegas, Nev., which saw a growth rate of 11.9 percent from an influx of 21,040 residents.

Growth means more tax revenue for local governments, but it also requires additional roads, water and sewer lines and other infrastructure.

A city also needs commercial and industrial growth to accompany a population boom, said Chuck Carpenter, president of the Denton Chamber of Commerce.

"If you're going to grow, you better have the infrastructure to accommodate it, and you only have the infrastructure if you have the tax base to support it," Carpenter said.

"You've got to have the bigger tax base that comes from commercial and industrial."

The chamber's "North of Ordinary" slogan is aimed at attracting businesses to Denton. Officials don't want the city to be just another suburb, supplying workers for Dallas and Fort Worth, Carpenter said.

Denton's population growth is "a positive sign for existing retailers … but just more people coming to town without corresponding career opportunities could almost be a negative," Carpenter said. "But I'd rather this be the challenge than people leaving town by the hordes because something's gone bust."

Denton school district Planning Director Gene Holloway said the district, which stretches over 180 square miles, has experienced between 7 percent and 8 percent growth or higher over the last three years. With an expected 21,000 students enrolling this fall, the district is still only 30 percent to 40 percent built out, he said.

"We have quite a lot of room for growth in the district," Holloway said.

On average, the district opens one elementary school a year and two elementary schools every three years, he said. For every three elementary schools that open, that generally requires one middle school; and for every two or three middle schools that open, that could require a new high school.

Holloway said district administrators have been proactive about keeping ahead of growth. The school board is considering a bond election this year that will prepare the district for the next five years at least.

Residential activity usually brings in commercial and industrial growth as well, which helps the district meet the needs of increasing student populations, Holloway said.

"We certainly would hope and look for additional industrial and light industrial to assist in the tax values and overall cost of impact of new student growth," he said.

Two other Texas cities were among the nation's 25 fastest-growing large cities from July 2005 to July 2006, according to the Census Bureau. Fort Worth (No. 11) added 30,201 new residents, for a 4.8 percent growth rate. Laredo (No. 23) grew by 6,549 residents, an increase of 3.1 percent.

Only one Texas city was among the country's top 25 large cities with the most population loss during the same time period. Beaumont's population fell by 1,637 residents, or 1.5 percent, placing it fourth on the list behind New Orleans; Hialeah, Fla.; and St. Louis.

Staff writer Sarah Chacko contributed to this report.

LOWELL BROWN can be reached at 940-566-6882. His e-mail address is lmbrown@dentonrc.com.

WE'RE NO. 9
Here are population estimates for the 25 fastest growing U.S. cities with populations over 100,000 from July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006. The U.S. Census Bureau released the estimates today.

Geographic area		Population estimates		Change, 2005-2006
		July 1, 2006	July 1, 2005	Number	Percent
1	North Las Vegas, NV	197,567	176,527	21,040	11.9
2	McKinney, TX	107,530	96,805	10,725	11.1
3	Port St. Lucie, FL	143,868	130,959	12,909	9.9
4	Cape Coral, FL	151,389	139,986	11,403	8.1
5	Gilbert, AZ	191,517	177,653	13,864	7.8
6	Grand Prairie, TX	153,812	144,352	9,460	6.6
7	Peoria, AZ	142,024	134,259	7,765	5.8
8	Cary, NC	112,414	106,963	5,451	5.1
9	Denton, TX	109,561	104,264	5,297	5.1
10	Lancaster, CA	140,804	134,106	6,698	5
11	Fort Worth, TX	653,320	623,119	30,201	4.8
12	Joliet, IL	142,702	136,159	6,543	4.8
13	Miami, FL	404,048	386,619	17429	4.5
14	Bakersfield, CA	308,392	295,769	12,623	4.3
15	Raleigh, NC	356,321	342,812	13,509	3.9
16	Chandler, AZ	240,595	231,728	8,867	3.8
17	Baton Rouge, LA	229,553	221,148	8,405	3.8
18	Henderson, NV	240,614	232,014	8,600	3.7
19	Visalia, CA	113,487	109,433	4,054	3.7
20	Irvine, CA	193,956	187,457	6,499	3.5
21	Fontana, CA	170,099	164,468	5,631	3.4
22	Orlando, FL	220,186	213,250	6,936	3.3
23	Laredo, TX	215,484	208,935	6,549	3.1
24	Elk Grove, IL	129,184	125,293	3,891	3.1
25	Palmdale, CA	138,790	134,650	4,140	3.1