Austin, TX

Immigration drives nation’s population growth • Kansas Reflector

Published

1 year ago

December 26, 2024

Immigration drives nation’s population growth • Kansas Reflector

A recent immigration surge brought newcomers to every state this year, helping to offset a continued drop in U.S. births while contributing to a national upswing of about 3.3 million new residents, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Texas and Florida continued to dominate state population growth, together adding more than 1 million people from mid-2023 to mid-2024 and making up almost a third of the nation’s population increase. The state numbers include births, deaths, immigrants and residents moving from other states.

Nationally, this year’s population growth was up from the 2.8 million increase in 2023 and the 1.9 million boost in 2022, according to state population estimates released Thursday.

The population jump — the largest single-year increase since 2001 — was buoyed by a 21% increase in net immigration.

Immigration has become a more significant factor in population changes, making up all or almost all the growth for 18 states in every part of the country this year, according to an analysis of the data by William Frey, a demographer for the Brookings Institution, a left-leaning think tank.

“This points up the importance of immigration, not just to a couple of big states but to a broad swath of our country,” Frey said. “It’s going to be very welcome in a lot of places that would not be gaining many people or [would be] losing people because of lower fertility and higher deaths.”

Immigration grew in every state, ranging from an increase of about 69,000 people in Florida and California and 57,000 in Texas, down to a few hundred in Montana and Wyoming. The growth in the immigrant population ranged from 19% in Alaska to 36% in Montana.

California and Illinois were among states that had lost residents earlier in the decade, and their growth over the past year could help both stem expected losses in congressional representation after the next nationwide census in 2030.

If the growth continues, it would trim California’s loss to three seats in the U.S. House of Representatives instead of four, and Illinois could lose one seat instead of two, said Kimball Brace, a Virginia-based redistricting expert.

Florida, where growth has slowed slightly, could gain one fewer congressional seat than predicted — three instead of four, he said.

“Clearly immigration is coming into play — a couple years ago you had people talking about California going off the deep end [with population loss] and now it doesn’t look so deep,” said Brace, president of political consulting firm Election Data Services Inc.

California ranked third in the number of new residents from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024, according to census estimates, with a gain of about 233,000, thanks to both immigration and people moving in from other states. The Golden State was followed by North Carolina (165,000) and New York (130,000). Illinois grew by about 68,000 and Louisiana by about 9,700.

Florida and Texas also were the leaders in percentage change, growing about 2% in that year, followed by Utah (1.8%), South Carolina and Nevada (both up 1.7%), and Idaho and North Carolina (both up 1.5%).

Only three states had population losses for the year, of a few hundred people each: West Virginia, Vermont and Mississippi.

In Texas, the cities of Houston, Austin and Dallas added the most new housing last year — almost 40,000 new units among them — and are likely to be the centers of new population growth, according to a state report in November. Collin County, a Dallas suburb, is also one of the state’s fastest growing areas, with more than 16,000 new housing units added last year and almost 64,000 since 2020, according to the report.

Florida’s recent growth was concentrated in Jacksonville, Port St. Lucie, Miami, Tampa and Orlando, according to a state report this year.

A surplus of births over deaths helped most in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

New York City has built more housing, which helped stem net losses from people moving away, said Jan Vink, a senior extension associate at Cornell University’s Program on Applied Demographics.

That’s encouraging news for the state’s future, Vink said. In November, the university estimated that New York’s population could shrink by as much as 2 million people over the next 25 years because of low fertility rates and aging, unless those losses are offset by new arrivals in the form of immigration or people moving from other states.

Texas, the Carolinas, Florida and Tennessee had the largest numbers of new residents moving in from other states, though the numbers were down in all those states from the previous year as high interest rates and housing prices led more people to postpone moves.

Stateline, a States Newsroom affiliate, produced this report.

Source link

Related Topics:Featured immigration population growth

Click to comment

Austin, TX

Olympian Tony Azevedo urges Austin ISD to keep water polo

Published

3 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Press Room

Olympian Tony Azevedo urges Austin ISD to keep water polo

AUSTIN, Texas — A five-time Olympian is speaking out against Austin ISD’s proposal to eliminate its water polo program.

Tony Azevedo, a silver medalist and CEO of 68 Sports, said Texas has become the fastest-growing state for water polo and is on the verge of producing its first Olympic-level players from the region.

“For the first time, you have 30 to 40 players playing Division I,II, III college water polo across the board,” Azevedo said. “And for the first time, you have multiple players on national teams, where probably in this or maybe the next Olympics, you will have your first Texas Olympic water polo player.”

Austin ISD is weighing whether to cut its water polo program as part of a broader effort to close a $181 million budget deficit. The proposal, which would save $89,000, is set for a final board vote June 18. Students and parents have pushed back, arguing the district is unfairly targeting the sport.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Austin ISD athletes ask district to reconsider cutting water polo teams

Azevedo said eliminating the program would effectively bar athletes from ever competing at higher levels, arguing water polo cannot simply be picked up outside of an organized team setting the way other sports can.

“If you take water polo from these athletes, every single athlete you’re taking the sport away from doesn’t have a chance to succeed in our sport,” he said. “And that’s the bottom line.”

He also raised concerns about equity, warning that eliminating the high school program would leave club sports as the only option.

“Only the rich can play this sport,” Azevedo said of a club-only model. “Only the ones who have the money to go and pay for the club to travel.”

Azevedo said the sport carries benefits that extend beyond athletics, including water safety and mental health. He argued cutting it sends the wrong message to young athletes whose sports don’t generate revenue.

“Our kids should all be given the opportunity and equality to play whatever sport they want,” he said.

He urged parents across Texas to speak up before the board’s vote.

“Talk about how important the sport is to you and why it’s important to your kids,” Azevedo said.

The Austin ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote on the budget proposal June 18.

Source link

Austin, TX

Velocity Credit Union Announces Relocation and Grand Opening of New Southwest Austin Branch

Published

13 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Press Room

Velocity Credit Union Announces Relocation and Grand Opening of New Southwest Austin Branch

AUSTIN, Texas, June 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Velocity Credit Union is proud to celebrate the opening of its new Southwest Austin branch, a modern, expanded facility designed to better serve its growing membership across Central Texas. Located at 3419 Davis Lane, Austin, TX 78745, the full-service branch opened in late May and offers enhanced convenience, expanded services, and a welcoming space for members and the community.

Image caption: Photo caption: Velocity Credit Union’s new modern, expanded Southwest Austin branch is located at 3419 Davis Lane, Austin, TX 78745.

The new location replaces Velocity’s former Southwest Austin branch at 4220 S. Lamar Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78704, as part of the credit union’s continued investment in serving members where they live, work, and thrive.

To mark the opening, Velocity Credit Union hosted a grand opening celebration featuring special product offers, including loan and mortgage discounts, promotional certificate rates, exclusive sweepstakes giveaways, and opportunities for members and community partners to tour the new branch.

Designed with Members in Mind:

The new Southwest Austin location reflects Velocity’s continued commitment to delivering convenient, modern financial services in a welcoming and flexible environment.

Members will enjoy:

Two ITM drive-thru lanes offering 24/7 ATM access or live teller service during business hours
A spacious, comfortable branch layout designed for flexibility and a stress-free experience
Private offices for confidential conversations about loans, accounts, or financial planning
Expanded services to support everything from everyday transactions to complex financial needs

“This new location represents an important investment in our members and our community,” said Debbie Mitchell, President & CEO. “As Central Texas continues to grow, we are committed to growing with it—providing innovative solutions, expanded access, and personalized service every step of the way.”

The new branch will also offer expanded hours for greater convenience:

Lobby Hours
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Drive-Thru Hours
Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Velocity Credit Union looks forward to welcoming members to this modern facility and continuing help them manage their financial lives with the trusted, personalized service they expect.

For more information, visit: https://www.velocitycu.com/.

About Velocity Credit Union

Velocity Credit Union has served Central Texans for more than 75 years with a mission to provide exceptional financial products, personal service, and support for the communities it serves. Membership is open to those who live or work in the five-county Austin area. Velocity Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Equal Housing Lender.

Photo 300dpi: https://www.velocitycu.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Velocity-Southwest-Austin-Branch-4×6-1.jpg

Photo caption: Velocity Credit Union’s new modern, expanded Southwest Austin branch is located at 3419 Davis Lane, Austin, TX 78745.

News Source: Velocity Credit Union

Source link