Do you think he low growth areas in Texas have their time to grow?

[BobTex]

Daniel nailed it for the Beaumont area. I grew up in Port Neches. It was OK. I now live north of Beaumont about 50 miles and it seems there are new housing starts and new residences everywhere out here. Don't know if that is reflected in the stats. The Golden Triangle is going to be pretty static for growth and unless jobs draw you there's a lot of reasons not to live here. High on that list is humidity, rain, potential hurricanes and low aesthetics.

Now for those that can get work in the refineries there's lots of money to be made.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

The US is experiencing it's lowest birth rate since WW II, which led to the 'boom' that is also fading. I just don't see enough population growth to make any of the smaller towns grow. Commuters will only go so far.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by citidata18

I'd say as a general rule, any city within a 2 hour drive of DFW or Houston is most certainly poised for some level of growth.

May not apply to Houston. Beaumont resembles Peoria, IL now. Most Golden Trianglers and Louisianans have relocated to Houston and make an occasional visit on weekends/holidays back.

One could say that Houston is in Western Louisiana. The professional class of New Orleans has largely relocated here for Energy industry jobs. Many blue-collar roughnecks hail from Lafayette or points south or west. Louisiana permeates the culture of SE Texas.

In the other direction, 2 hours takes you to Austin (and add another half-hour to San Antonio). It's still pretty rural inside the Triangle--the Painted Churches try to bring a little civilization and culture to that part of Texas.

[BobTex]

What are the "Painted Churches"?

I wouldn't call it rural as far as the majority population. Just doing a quick summary in my head I think of the 2 counties Orange could be considered the most rural but still 85% within city limits and in Jefferson County it's around 90%. These live on city lots ... not too rural. We're talking 1/3 to 1 acre lots. Can't get too rural like that with someone living so close you can hear them fighting, making love, or flushing their toilets. Now, I live in a rural county and it's very different.

I might add there's a helluva lot of culture in the Golden Triangle. May not be snobbish tea sipping type culture.