Will houston surpass chicago as the third largest city (living, geothermal)

[milquetoast]

The only thing 'wrong' with Chicago is that it's too damn cold and windy in the winter and it's landlocked. Other than that, it's self made and has everything going for it. If the numbers stabilize over the years, those should be the reasons for it. Big oil won't be around forever, though...

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by milquetoast

The only thing 'wrong' with Chicago is that it's too damn cold and windy in the winter and it's landlocked.

Ever been to Chicago? That lake is so beautiful. But both cities have one thing in common: They're self-made.

[Clone]

the topic didn't mention Phoenix, if that is the case then Chicago will be in 5th place

[miamiman]

Originally Posted by Guerilla

Phoenix has no chance. Houston is growing, and has a 700,000+ lead on Phoenix already.

Phoenix DEFINTIELY has a chance. Phoenix is the fastest growing major city in the country. It's growing much faster than Houston. Phoenix is not a completely contained city (meaning it is not surrounded by other towns and cities on all sides). Because of that, Phoenix will likely gobble up more land with a significant existing population, and that will accelerate the city's growth rate even more.

Houston has absolutely no chance of overtaking Chicago before Phoenix overtakes Houston.

In the 1990s the growth rate in the city of Phoenix was double that of the city of Houston. Phoenix will overtake Houston between 2020 and 2030.

If all goes smoothly, Phoenix will overtake Chicago by 2050, to become the third most populous city in the United States, behind Los Angeles.

[Guerilla]

Originally Posted by miamiman

Phoenix DEFINTIELY has a chance. Phoenix is the fastest growing major city in the country. It's growing much faster than Houston. Phoenix is not a completely contained city (meaning it is not surrounded by other towns and cities on all sides). Because of that, Phoenix will likely gobble up more land with a significant existing population, and that will accelerate the city's growth rate even more.

Houston has absolutely no chance of overtaking Chicago before Phoenix overtakes Houston.

In the 1990s the growth rate in the city of Phoenix was double that of the city of Houston. Phoenix will overtake Houston between 2020 and 2030.

If all goes smoothly, Phoenix will overtake Chicago by 2050, to become the third most populous city in the United States, behind Los Angeles.

Houston has no little towns around it either. Houston has a section of its ETJ (that it can annex) that has over 800,000 people in it (NW Harris County). And hopefully the water can keep up with Phoenix.

Another thing, if (and that is a big IF) Phoenix over takes Chicago and Houston in population (city limits of course), it will never become an important American city (it isn't now). Just look at its skyline. It looks like Houston's Greenspoint District. Phoenix is not a diverse area, either.

Oh and by the way, you said Phoenix has grown twice as fast as Houston has from 1990-2000. Let me give you the truth:

1990-2000:

Houston: 323,078
Phoenix: 337,642

I wouldn't call that twice as fast.

[Guerilla]

Also, let's look at the stats from 2000-2006:

Houston: 190,860
Phoenix: 191,941

I really don't know where you Phoenix guys are getting your information from that Phoenix is growing "twice as fast as Houston" when it actually had only grown by a few thousand more.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by Guerilla

Also, let's look at the stats from 2000-2006:

Houston: 190,860
Phoenix: 191,941

I really don't know where you Phoenix guys are getting your information from that Phoenix is growing "twice as fast as Houston" when it actually had only grown by a few thousand more.

percentagewise, Phoenix is growing considerably faster.

[south-to-west]

Originally Posted by Guerilla

Also, let's look at the stats from 2000-2006:

Houston: 190,860
Phoenix: 191,941

I really don't know where you Phoenix guys are getting your information from that Phoenix is growing "twice as fast as Houston" when it actually had only grown by a few thousand more.

Given that Phoenix is smaller than Houston, it has grown at a much faster rate. In fact, I think that it may be the fastest growing metro in the US outside of Las Vegas.

To answer the original question, Houston may be able to catch Chicago in the next 30-50 years, but if it doesn't plan adequately for growth through improvements in infrastructure and public transoportation, then it will be one giant hell hole a la Sao Paolo if it catches Chicago in population. The same goes for my city, Atlanta--as well as any other Sunbelt city.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by south-to-west

To answer the original question, Houston may be able to catch Chicago in the next 30-50 years, but if it doesn't plan adequately for growth through improvements in infrastructure and public transoportation, then it will be one giant hell hole a la Sao Paolo if it catches Chicago in population. The same goes for my city, Atlanta--as well as any other Sunbelt city.

I always wanted Houston to be the American version of Mexico City. What's wrong with Mexico City? That's the only place in Mexico I want to visit (and the only place so far). It's better than Cancún!

[Guerilla]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

percentagewise, Phoenix is growing considerably faster.

Oh, percentage wise, but raw numbers, Phoenix isn't. Still, don't try to grasp onto the percentage numbers because don't mean much. There are so many suburbs (even Houston suburbs), that are growing faster (numbers wise), than many of America's largest cities.