New Census Bureau Population Estimates Reveal Metro Areas and Counties that Propelled Growth in Florida and the Nation
The Villages, Fla., Nation’s Fastest-Growing Metro Area for Second Year in a Row
Florida was home to the nation’s fastest growing metro area from 2013 to 2014, according to new U.S. Census Bureau metropolitan statistical area, micropolitan statistical area and county population estimates released today.
The Villages, located to the west of the Orlando metro area, grew by 5.4 percent between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014, to reach a population of about 114,000. State population estimates released in December revealed that Florida had become the nation’s third most populous state. Today’s estimates show Florida’s growth to reach this milestone was propelled by numerous metro areas and counties within the state.
Metro areas
- The Carolinas were home to four of the nation’s 20 fastest-growing metro areas between 2013 and 2014: Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, S.C.-N.C. (second); Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, S.C. (13th); Raleigh, N.C. (15th); and Charleston-North Charleston, S.C. (17th).
- The nation’s metro areas contained about 272.7 million people in 2014, an increase of about 2.4 million from 2013.
- Bismarck, N.D., was the fastest-growing metro area outside of the South or West between 2013 and 2014 (22nd overall).
- Overall, 298 of the 381 metro areas in the United States gained population between 2013 and 2014.
- There were 53 metro areas with 2014 populations of 1 million or more. New York was the nation’s largest metro area in 2014, with about 20.1 million people.
- The Tucson, Ariz., metro area surpassed the 1 million population threshold between 2013 and 2014.
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-56.html