Why did Fort Worth's population decline in the 1970s? (Houston: neighborhoods, suburban)

[jw1120]

Fort Worth's population was 393,000 in 1970 but in 1980 it dropped to 385,000. I know that it wasn't a big decline, but other major cities in Texas like Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso saw their populations grow by leaps and bounds during that time. For the last twenty years, Fort Worth has been one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. For those of you that are old enough to remember what was going on in the city at that time? What was the year by year population totals because I can't find them any where online.

[Treasurevalley92]

Most cities declined in the 70s, thats the norm. White Flight, Urban Crime, Auto Centric destruction of urban neighborhoods, that stuff.

The populations of the Texas cities you mention only technically increased, the growth was suburban, just within city limits. At that point the downtowns and central neighborhoods were losing population and the tear downs and ugly parking lots we know today were being built.

[Campeador]

Originally Posted by Treasurevalley92

Most cities declined in the 70s, thats the norm. White Flight, Urban Crime, Auto Centric destruction of urban neighborhoods, that stuff.

The populations of the Texas cities you mention only technically increased, the growth was suburban, just within city limits. At that point the downtowns and central neighborhoods were losing population and the tear downs and ugly parking lots we know today were being built.

Exactly. Same story in every metropolitan area of the US. IMO, the mentality (read: fear) persists here in DFW, whereas most US metros have seen a major shift in attitudes and development.