Austin, TX

More than two-thirds of Texas’ 30.3 million residents live in four largest metro areas

Published

1 year ago

November 20, 2023

More than two-thirds of Texas’ 30.3 million residents live in four largest metro areas

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Texas added nearly 1.6 million people between 2020 and Jan. 1, with the Austin region — the state’s fastest-growing metro area with 7.2% growth — drawing in the most new residents, according to new population data by the Texas Demographic Center. But Fort Worth added more residents — 48,542 — than any other city.

The so-called “Texas Triangle”— composed of the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin metro areas — now holds a whopping 68% of the state’s 30.3 million residents.

Overall, the population of Texas grew by 4% from January 2020 to January 2023, including new births as well as new residents moving to the area, the data show.

“Texas is growing at a rapid rate because we have high resident retention and are attracting new domestic residents,” said Lauren Leining, a data analyst at Texas 2036, which strategizes on long-term Texas policy. “With new state residents bringing in considerable wealth, Texas should take this opportunity to expand infrastructure in important ways.”

Helen You, associate director and lead demographer at TDC, said a large majority of the population changes comes from migration both from in and out of the state. You said that over half of Texas’ counties are in “rural decline,” meaning their deaths outnumber their births. However, the statewide population is still rising due to the sheer number of new Texans.

“Actually, three-fourths of the state’s increase are driven by migration from either inside the United States … or from immigration,” You said.

And while most Texans live in major metro areas, it’s not those regions’ core cities that are growing rapidly. All five of the cities with highest growth rates — Liberty Hill, Weston, Caddo Mills, Josephine and Fulshear — were once sleepy outposts now experiencing encroachment of the state’s longtime suburban sprawl. You, the lead demographer, said TDC hypothesizes movement from urban areas to less densely populated areas is caused by more affordable housing and the availability of remote work.

The center’s report lists white Texans as the largest demographic group in the state, contrary to the U.S. Census’ own population estimates updated earlier this year. Still, the two entities’ estimates are within 1 percentage point of each other. The Census found that Hispanic people make up 40.2% of the population compared to white Texans who make up 39.8% of all residents. The Texas center estimates that white people are 41% of the population compared to Hispanic people who make up 39.6% of all residents. Black people make up 11.9% of the population and Asian people constitute 5.2% of the state’s residents, according to the TDC’s estimates.

In three of the five most populous counties, Hispanic Texans do make up the largest population group, according to the TDC’s estimates. In Bexar County, Hispanic Texans make up a full majority at 61%. In none of those five urban counties do white Texans make up a majority.

Meanwhile, a boom in the North Texas suburbs kept the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area at the top of state’s population centers, with an estimated 8 million residents as of January, according to the numbers which were first reported by The Dallas Morning News.

Texans chose to stay put along most of the southern border region, with Brownsville-Harlingen leading a slight uptick in residents in the Rio Grande Valley.

They moved away from the Gulf Region, however. The largest exodus came from Corpus Christi, with 3,659 people moving out of the Sparkling City by the Sea since 2020. The Beaumont-Port Arthur and Victoria areas also saw population declines. El Paso was a close second for that dubious honor, losing some 3,227 residents from 2020 to 2023. The largest percentage dip was in the tiny town of Toyah, which has lost 7 of its 61 residents since 2020.

And they left the rural parts of Northeast Texas and far West Texas as well, with drops in population in both Texarkana and San Angelo.

Big jumps were seen in areas considered a suburban-rural mix, such as Aledo and Alvarado about 30 miles from Fort Worth. Liberty Hill, a far-flung Austin exurb between Georgetown and Burnet, saw the highest percentage growth of any city, with a 194% increase from 2020 to 2023. Fulshear, about 30 miles west of Houston, more than doubled its population, from about 17,000 in 2020 to almost 40,000 in January 2023.

The states sending the most households to Texas from 2020 to 2021 are California, Florida, Louisiana, New York and Colorado, according to Texas 2036. In that time, California alone accounted for nearly 53,000 households moving to Texas. Californians also brought the most money as their adjusted gross income, totalling more than $7.2 billion, the agency said.

“People moving to Texas from out of state are richer, on average, than people who move within Texas,” Texas 2036 data analyst Carlos Ignacio Navarro wrote.

Disclosure: Texas 2036 has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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Austin, TX

Texas A&M vs USC preview: Scouting report, predictions for Las Vegas Bowl

Published

4 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Texas A&M vs USC preview: Scouting report, predictions for Las Vegas Bowl

All that’s left in the season for Texas A&M football is the Las Vegas Bowl. With one game left, the Aggies head west to take on the USC Trojans for the first time since 1977.

Texas A&M (8-4, 5-3 SEC) dropped out of the US LBM Coaches Poll at the end of the season, while the Aggies’ next opponent is fighting to finish above .500. USC is 6-6 overall and is 11th in the Big Ten at 4-5.

BUY TICKETS TO TEXAS A&M VS USC

Will A&M take care of business in the final game of 2024? Can they send off Year 1 under head coach Mike Elko on a good note? How will the Aggies fare down three key defenders up front? Can Elko and the Aggies secure a nine-win season for the first time since 2020?

Here’s a full scouting report for the Texas A&M Aggies vs the USC Trojans:

Texas A&M vs USC in Las Vegal Bowl

When: 9:30 p.m. Friday.

Where: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

TV: ESPN.

Radio: 1370 AM in Austin; 1150 AM, 93.7 FM in College Station.

Line: Texas A&M is favored by 3½.

Weather: Allegiant Stadium is a dome, rendering the weather ~~to be~~ a nonfactor.

Texas A&M vs USC history

All-time: USC leads 3-0.

Last meeting: 47-28 USC win (1977).

Most memorable meeting: It hasn’t been an extensive history between the two programs, and it hasn’t been a joyous one for the Aggies either. The latest matchup came in the 1977 Bluebonnet Bowl, played annually in Houston.

The final meeting between the Aggies and Trojans was also the last time A&M played in the bowl game. A&M lost to USC, 47-28, aided by a then-bowl record four-touchdown pass performance from USC’s Rob Hertel. Trojans’ running back Dwight Ford broke a school record with 94 rushing yards.

Know the foe: USC

Last game: 49-35 loss to Notre Dame.

Players to watch: Thanks to increased player movement, it’s oftentimes hard to get a beat on who will and won’t play in non-playoff bowl games. However, looking at the Trojans’ offense, their passing attack was led by sophomore wide receivers Makai Lemon and Zachariah Branch. The duo have combined for 93 receptions, 1168 yards and four touchdowns. Branch is in the transfer portal and is not expected to suit up against the Aggies.

The Trojans started the year with Miller Moss at quarterback, but thanks to USC making a switch, sophomore Jayden Maiava is the starting quarterback now. He has made the last three starts for the Trojans, while Moss has entered the transfer portal, reportedly joining Louisville ahead of the 2025 season.

As a starter, Maiava has totaled 840 passing yards, seven touchdown passes and three interceptions.

Central Texas connections: The USC Trojans football team is a national brand, and with that comes an extensive reach on the recruiting trail. As a result, the Trojans’ roster has its fair share of Texas natives. In total, 11 players call the Lone Star State home, including junior tight end Lake McRee who is from Austin and played at Lake Travis.

When Texas A&M has the ball

It will be interesting to see how the Aggies handle the Las Vegas Bowl, with 19 players reportedly in the transfer portal and at least Nic Scourton already forgoing the bowl game for NFL aspirations.

What Aggies fans can expect to see is Marcel Reed getting plenty of work with him being viewed as the unquestioned starting quarterback heading into the new season for the first time.

Also, preseason-projected starting running back Rueben Owens made his first appearance against the Longhorns in Week 14 following a knee injury that made him unavailable for most of the year. It will be interesting to see if they once again give him game action to close out the year.

Look for the Aggies to work in young players such as freshman wide receiver Ashton Bethal-Roman who finished the year with four receptions, 44 yards and one touchdown in limited action as they head into next season.

When USC has the ball

The Trojans’ passing game is well-documented. They enter the game with the 10th-best passing attack in the nation, averaging 291.7 yards a game. Maiava will be looking for Makai Lemon for much of the evening, while Austin native Lake McRee is also a viable option.

Even with all the attention being paid to their passing game, senior running back Woody Marks tallied 1,133 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns this year, and will be a problem the Aggies will need to contend with as well.

Texas A&M vs USC key matchup

Aggies’ defensive backs vs Trojans’ receivers

A&M’s secondary will have its hands full with this Trojans passing attack, and it will be up to Will Lee III, Dezz Ricks and BJ Mayes to limit the big-play ability of USC’s passing attack.

While teams have had success running on the Aggies recently, the Trojans’ strength lies in the passing game, and A&M should be prepared for an aerial attack during the season finale.

Texas A&M vs USC predictions

Tony Catalina: It’s hard to get a beat on how these non-playoff games will go with all the changes and uncertainty. However, Mike Elko has a chance to get his ninth win of the season, and there is still enough talent in the program and coming back that I think A&M is able to find a way. Texas A&M 27, USC 20.

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Austin, TX

Texas Longhorns HC Steve Sarkisian Prasies Clemson Tigers QB Cade Klubnik

Published

12 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Texas Longhorns HC Steve Sarkisian Prasies Clemson Tigers QB Cade Klubnik

The Clemson Tigers weren’t able to pull of the massive upset against the Texas Longhorns in the first-round of the College Football Playoff, resulting in their season coming to an end.

It was a really solid 2024 campaign for the Tigers. They were able to win 10 games, the ACC Title, and made the newly expanded CFP.

However, going on the road against the Longhorns proved to be no easy task. While it was a 14-point loss, the argument could be made that Clemson exceeded some expectations, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Texas has one of the best defenses in the country, and certainly one of the best secondaries. Throwing the ball on the Longhorns has been something that few players have had success at this season. However, Cade Klubnik and the passing offense of the Tigers had one of their best games of the season in the big moment.

In the loss, Klubnik totaled 336 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and one interception. Considering Texas was allowing less than 200 yards per game through the air, this was an impressive showing.

After the game, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian spoke very highly of Klubnik and what he was able to do against the Texas defense.

“I’m proud of Cade,” Sarkisian said via Clemson Insider. “I’ve known him for a long time, been recruiting him I feel like forever when he was in high school, and the fact that his career didn’t start off maybe the way he would have liked at Clemson, and there was a lot of expectations for him there, but to come out and have the season that he had this year for them, to get them to the playoffs, to be ACC champs, that’s a credit to him. He’s a very good football player.”

After a mediocre sophomore season, the Tigers quarterback took a massive leap in 2024. Overall, Klubnik finished with 3,639 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns, and just six interceptions. While a lot of the attention goes to him throwing the ball, he was also able to rush for nearly 500 yards with seven scores.

The junior quarterback quickly became one of the best players at the position in the country, and was a massive part of why Clemson achieved as much as they did this season.

Now, the hope will be for the Tigers that Klubnik returns for his senior season. If he does, they will be entering 2025 with one of the best passing offenses in the country.

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Austin, TX

Fort Worth surpasses Austin to be Texas’ 4th-largest city

Published

22 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

Fort Worth surpasses Austin to be Texas’ 4th-largest city

FORT WORTH, Texas — Move over, capital city. Cowtown is making Texas history.

According to census data from 2023 and released in November, Fort Worth has surpassed Austin in population and now ranks as Texas’ fourth-largest city.

According to the Texas Demographic Center’s 2023 Population Estimates report, Austin now ranks as the No. 5 Texas metro.

As of Jan. 1, 2024, Fort Worth had a population of 989,878. Austin is creeping up on a million people as well. It’s population at the same time was estimated at 986,928.

Not only is Fort Worth larger than Austin, it appears to be growing at a faster rate. Cowtown’s population increased 7.75% from 2020 to 2024. During the same period, the Live Music Capital of the World only grew 2.6%.

Not surprisingly, Houston was ranked Texas’ most populous city with about 2,318,657 people as of Jan. 1, 2024. San Antonio came in at No. 2 with roughly 1,496, 876 residents, and Dallas landed at No. 3 with 1,308,404.

Austin has been a popular relocation destination in recent years but may have lost some of its clout. As recently as 2023, it was ranked the 10-most populous city in the U.S.

It has since been knocked out of the top 10.

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