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Census Bureau estimates Gilmer has 5,208 people

The U.S. Census Bureau has released its latest population estimates.

As of July 1, 2007, the city of Gilmer had an estimated population of 5,208, up 8.5 percent from the 2000 census figure of 4,799. It had purportedly gained 119 residents since the July 1, 2006 estimate.

It is not clear whether the Census Bureau took into account the fact that the city has lost territory since 2000 because of deannexation.

Latest estimate for Upshur County indicates a population of 37,924. The 2000 census count was 35,291. The county has grown 7.5 percent during the decade so far.

Big Sandy had an estimated population of 1,346, up from 1,288 in 2000.

Ore City’s estimated count of 1,175 was up from 1,106 in 2000.

East Mountain’s 622 estimate was up from the 2000 census count of 580.

Gladewater’s 6,289 estimate was up from 6,078 in 2000.

Longview’s population estimate is 76,816, up from 75,844 in 2006 and from 73,344 in 2000.

Tyler is growing more rapidly, with its latest estimate of 96,451, up from 94,418 in 2006 and 83,650 in 2000.

The Longview MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) consisting of Gregg, Rusk and Upshur counties, had an estimated population of 203,611 on July 1, 2007, up from 201,731 in 2006 and 194,042 in 2000.

Latest estimate for Tyler MSA (Smith County) is 198,705, up from 194,798 in 2006 and 174,706 in 2000.

The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University also released information this week that the Longview MSA ranks second among MSAs in the state in job growth.

In its June 2008 Monthly Review of the Texas Economy, the center said that between May 2007 and May 2008, job growth in the Longview MSA was 3.3 percent, compared to the statewide average of 2.4 percent. The national job growth rate was 0.1 percent.

The top five MSAs for job growth include:

1. Odessa, 3.7 percent

2. Longview, 3.3 percent

3. Midland, 3.1 percent

4. Laredo, 2.7 percent

5. College Station/Bryan, 2.7 percent

Other neighboring cities with their 2007 versus 2000 comparisons:

Pittsburg - 4,647; 4,347

Mineola - 5,120; 4,550

Hawkins - 1,508; 1,331

Quitman - 2,233; 2,030

Winnsboro - 3,909; 3,584

Mount Pleasant - 14,770; 13,935

Mount Vernon - 2,805; 2,286

Daingerfield - 2,480; 2,517

Lone Star - 1,608; 1,631

Hughes Springs - 1,839; 1,856

Naples- 1,420; 1,410

Linden - 2,142; 2,256

Atlanta - 5,513; 5,745

Marshall - 23,872; 23,935

Hallsville - 2,973; 2,772

Carthage - 6,605; 6,664

Henderson - 11,599; 11,273

Kilgore - 12,024; 11,301

White Oak - 6,224; 5,624

Texas has gone from 20,851,820 residents in the 2000 census to an estimated 23,904,380 as of July 1, 2007.

New Orleans, hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was the fastest-growing large city in the nation between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007. This follows the city having the largest rate of population loss since 2000.

Houston, another city near the Gulf Coast, led the nation’s cities in numerical increase during the period. New Orleans had the fifth largest numerical growth.

U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Thursday show New Orleans’ population rose by 13.8 percent to 239,124 during the one-year period, to lead all cities with populations of 100,000 or more in rate of increase. New Orleans was followed by Victorville, Calif., whose population climbed 9.5 percent to 107,221. Victorville, in Southern California’s San Bernardino County, saw its population pass the 100,000 mark for the first time in 2007.

Three Texas cities made the fastest-growing top 10: McKinney and Denton (near Dallas, ranking third and 10th, respectively) and Killeen (near Austin, ranking sixth). Rounding out the top 10 were North Las Vegas, Nev. (fourth); Cary, N.C. (near Raleigh, ranking fifth); Port St. Lucie, Fla. (on the Atlantic coast, seventh); Gilbert, Ariz. (near Phoenix, eighth); and Clarksville, Tenn. (on the Kentucky border, ninth).

Houston added 38,932 residents between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, to lead the nation in numerical population increase. Houston, which reached 2.2 million, was joined by three other Texas cities: San Antonio (third), Fort Worth (fourth) and Austin (eighth). North Carolina also contributed multiple cities to the list: Charlotte (ninth) and Raleigh (10th). Rounding out the top 10 were Phoenix (second), New Orleans (fifth), New York (sixth) and Atlanta (seventh).

New York continued to be the nation’s most populous city, with 8.3 million residents. This was more than twice the population of Los Angeles, which ranked second at 3.8 million. Chicago, with 2.8 million, was third, followed by Houston and Phoenix (1.6 million).

Other highlights:

2006-2007

* New to the listing of the 25 most populous cities in 2007 is Nashville-Davidson, Tenn. (a city-county consolidation), 25th with a population of 590,807. In addition, Fort Worth moved up to 17th place; Charlotte to 19th; and Milwaukee to 22nd. Washington fell out of the top 25.

* California and Texas each placed five cities on the listing of the 25 fastest-growing and on the list of the 25 biggest numerical gainers between 2006 and 2007.

* Other cities making both lists of the 25 largest numerical gainers and the 25 fastest-growing from 2006 to 2007: New Orleans; Victorville; North Las Vegas; Port St. Lucie; Gilbert; Fort Worth; Raleigh; Atlanta; Henderson, Nev.; and Bakersfield, Calif.

* Columbus, Ga., had the largest percentage decrease from 2006 to 2007. Its population decline is attributable to a decline in the population living in military barracks.

Columbus was followed by Baton Rouge, La.; Hollywood, Fla.; Jackson, Miss.; and Coral Springs, Fla. Six of the 25 fastest-losing cities were in Florida.

* Cleveland suffered the largest numerical decline in population from 2006 to 2007, followed by Columbus, Ga.; Baton Rouge; Philadelphia; and Baltimore.

2000-2007

* McKinney, Texas, was the nation’s fastest-growing city between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2007, as its population more than doubled to 115,620. North Las Vegas was second, as its population rose 83.6 percent to 212,114. Eight of the top 25 were in California: Victorville, Elk Grove, Irvine, Roseville, Rancho Cucamonga, Moreno Valley, Bakersfield and Fontana.

* New York was the largest numerical gainer, adding 265,873 residents over the period. Houston, which added 233,876, was second. Five other Texas cities made the top 25: San Antonio, Fort Worth, Austin, McKinney and Dallas.

* New Orleans experienced both the largest rate of loss and largest numerical decline during the period, as its population fell 50.7 percent (from 484,674 to 239,124).

Cleveland had the second greatest rate of loss (8.3 percent, from 477,472 to 438,042), with Philadelphia ranking second in numerical decrease (from 1,517,550 to 1,449,634).

The estimated U.S. population as of yesterday morning (July 11) was 304,571,295. The world’s was 6,709,296,038.

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