Quote:
Originally Posted by davidals
Raleigh's growth is borderline surreal. In North Carolina, cities grow through annexation, though it should be noted that of the ten largest cities in the state, by looking at real estate sales in city boundaries before and after annexations (and other factors), all but two of the state's 10 largest picked up more from in-migration than from annexations. In Raleigh, it's far more dramatic than anywhere else though - keeping up with it (in terms of infrastructure) is slightly beyond the city's ability at the moment.
I would note that for every decade starting in 1980, census bureau estimates in North Carolina have turned out to be lower than the actual numbers when the final census tallies were in. Given that growth projections and population estimates have direct bearing on things like schools, highway construction, and mass transit, the larger-than-expected numbers aren't necessarily a pleasant surprise, if plans (for example) for a freeway end up low-balled on traffic projections, causing something to be overburdened they day the ribbon is cut.
And because of this there are a couple cities - Cary (!) and Chapel Hill (which has had an Oregon-style urban growth boundary for a few decades now) - that have tried to downshift the influx to a more realistically manageable level.
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True. Raleigh's population grew by 46.91%, according the Census, from 2000 through 2009 but its land area only grew by 24.23%. So, clearly, Raleigh's growth isn't only fueled only by annexation. Similarly, Wake County grew by 42.9% in the same time period with (obviously) no land annexation.
Similarly, Charlotte also grew by a greater percentage than its land area but not as dramatic as in Raleigh. Charlotte grew by 30.2% in population and added 23.92% to its land area. Mecklenburg County grew by 31.4% in population in the same time period.
Cary grew wildly in the 90s with a pause in the early 2000s. But, as of late, it has taken off again and its population has also added tens of thousands since the last Census. If it hadn't put on the brakes, Cary would probably be pushing 175,000 now instead of the 140s. In any case, Cary is easily the most populated suburb in North Carolina.
Sources: Census.gov and
North Carolina Municipal Population Estimates | NC | OSBM
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