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By Cara McCoy 
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 | 4:20 p.m.
25 Fastest Growing Cities
- 1 - New Orleans
- 2 - Round Rock, Texas
- 3 - Cary, N.C.
- 4 - Gilbert, Ariz.
- 5 - McKinney, Texas
- 6 - Roseville, Calif.
- 7 - Irvine, Calif.
- 8 - Raleigh, N.C.
- 9 - Killeen, Texas
- 10 - Fort Worth, Texas
- 11 - Lewisville, Texas
- 12 - Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- 13 - Atlanta
- 14 - Victorville, Calif.
- 15 - Huntsville, Ala.
- 16 - Durham, N.C.
- 17 - Denton, Texas
- 18 - Arlington, Va.
- 19 - North Las Vegas
- 20 - Alexandria, Va.
- 21 - Thornton, Co.
- 22 - Aurora, Co.
- 23 - Charlotte, N.C.
- 24 - Plano, Texas
- 25 - Denver -- Based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates for cities over 100,000 in population from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008.
A survey last week showed most North Las Vegas residents are happy to live there.
According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, those residents likely have seen a slough of new neighbors: Numbers released today rank North Las Vegas No. 19 on the list of the 25 fastest-growing large cities.
The list is based on data estimates collected from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008, in cities with populations greater than 100,000.
North Las Vegas' population increased 2.9 percent, from 211,109 to 217,253, census records show. No other Nevada cities appear in the ranking.
State demographer Jeff Hardcastle said North Las Vegas' appearance on the list wasn't surprising.
"North Las Vegas has a slightly smaller base population than Henderson or the city of Las Vegas, so you're going to end up with higher growth based on how numbers and percentages work," he said. "It's not terribly surprising that they're growing faster than other parts of the state."
He cited expansion in the Aliante community and nearby housing developments in the northern part of the city as factors in its growth.
While they didn't appear on the list of the fastest-growing, other Clark County cities showed growth as well. Las Vegas grew from 556,260 in 2007 to 558,383 in 2008; Henderson increased from 248,199 in 2007 to 252,064 in 2008, according to census data.
Boulder City showed a slight decrease, with a change from 14,821 to 14,720, census records show. Mesquite showed an increase, from 15,531 to 16,444.
As for what the numbers may look like for next year -- after a year of economic turmoil nationwide and in the Las Vegas Valley -- Hardcastle said continued explosive growth is unlikely.
"Through what I've seen -- from last year's estimate and anecdotal, short-term numbers -- things are at best flat," he said.
He did say it was unlikely that the state would lose population because the economy isn't much better in other parts of the country. He also said between the high cost of moving and the high percentage of people locked into mortgages -- many of them underwater -- many residents will stay put.
"It's a mixed bag right now," he said.
The promise of 12,500 new jobs when MGM Mirage's CityCenter opens in the fall could be a bright spot on the horizon for struggling Nevadans, Hardcastle said.
The 2010 Census will provide a look at the state's demographics that is more detailed than the Census Bureau's yearly estimates. Hardcastle stressed the importance of participating.
"We need people to respond to the Census so we do have a good picture of what's going on," he said.
In neighboring states, Gilbert, Ariz., and the California cities of Roseville, Irvine, and Victorville appear on the list of fastest-growing cities.
New Orleans, which grew 8.2 percent, ranked No. 1. As of July 1, 2008, the population of New Orleans was estimated at 311,853, up from 210,768 in 2006 following Hurricane Katrina. Its numbers are still below the pre-hurricane level of 484,674, based on the 2000 Census, according to Census records.
Four of the 10 fastest-growing cities are in Texas: Red Rock (No. 2), McKinney (No. 5), Killeen (No. 9) and Fort Worth (No. 10).
Fastest growing means most home forclosures and highest job losses down the road. Look at FL and NV, home prices sky rocketed and jobs were everywhere, now those same places in all the negative columns during this downturn. So let's not make "fastest growing" into something great. And how about all those gun related deaths coming from "North" Las Vegas???
Let's SLOW DOWN!!!! Let's not fall back into the trap of grow grow grow, faster, faster, faster or North Las Vegas will just be yet another sad American story. R-E-G-U-L-A-T-E the growth!!!
foreclosures
these last year growth came to a screeching halt
please, the ONLY reason they can claim they are growing is because all that land around craig road, ann road, grand teton, etc. that used to be desert is in the city limits of north las vegas and that's where all those homes were built.
if that land was in las vegas city limits or unincorporated clark county, north las vegas would just be the ghetto that it really is.
Foreclosed office buildings would make conversion condos for those forclosed out of houses / only fair -- found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth
Hey Stevwm,
Been to Aliante or Eldorado recently? It was great watching the fireworks at Streasand Park tonight. We also enjoy the Nature Discovery park with the faux dinosaur bones and fun water features and lake. NLV just sucks right?
How is 89109 doing for "regular" Las Vegas lately? Still over 400 registered sex offenders there?
it's amazing how dumb some people are. YES, aliante and eldorado and lone mountain, and all those places that have been built in the last 5 years are the only reason north las vegas can say they are "the fastest growing city".
if that land was not in the city limits of north las vegas, you'd have everything east of mlk and north of oakey as north las vegas. and that's pure ghetto.
Unfortunately North Las Vegas is not growing job wise. How are all the new arrivals going to pay the rent?
I'm not sure how much of a difference it will make, but most of the people in my neighborhood are older and retired. We're looking to buy home in the NW area, and we're here due to The Air force beefing up staff at Creech (frmrly Indian Springs)
That is a trend that will continue for at least the next 3 years... but no one ever talks about it. Our group THIS MONTH came with about 75 new people. Most of the wives (like me) are looking for part time jobs in the little shops in all the strip malls up here.