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Not everyone wants to live in large urban areas, but it seems that most do. In years past most of the country's 543 micropolitan areas have lost population. In 2023 most (314) gained population. Here are the 20 largest-gaining micropolitan areas in 2023 with their 2023 population estimates and one-year growth. Only 4 of the top 20 are not part of a larger CSA. I could be wrong on some of these since recent CSA changes may not have been updated on Wikipedia.
Seaford, Delaware - 263,509 - 7,062
Jefferson, Georgia - 88,615 - 4,606 (Atlanta-Athens GA CSA)
Anderson Creek, North Carolina - 141,477 - 2,999 (Raleigh-Durham-Cary NC CSA)
The biggest population center in that micro, which is basically all of Sussex County, is actually the coastal portions, with the Lewes-Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach being the most populated, followed by the Bethany Beach-Ocean View-Millville-South Bethany cluster, with a third cluster (Fenwick Island-Williamsville) full of development that spreads several miles inland. There's a fourth sizeable cluster on the western and northern sides of Rehoboth and Indian bays along DE Route 24 between Rehoboth and Millsboro, with lots of retirees. Seaford is in the more rural western side of the county, where there's less sprawl and a lot of farms right outside each town's corporate limits. Then you have Delmar in the SW corner that's partially in Maryland, and that is basically the northern limit of the Salisbury MSA's sprawl.
I also wonder how many offer the walkability and affordability that many are looking for?
Many of them do, particularly college towns like where I am. My recently divorced sister moved down here last year from Wisconsin and lives in a downtown neighborhood in my local micropolitan city and walks to almost everything she needs. She has a 2BR apartment in a vintage 1920s bungalow and pays much less in rent what she paid in WI, and it includes all utilities. 10 gig internet, too. She enjoys a nearly car-free lifestyle; the town even has its own bus system. The walkscore of her neighborhood is 88. The town is small enough to where even if she needs to drive somewhere, it doesn't take her more than a few minutes. No such thing as rush hour (she walks to work anyway).
I realize that not all micropolitan towns offer this, but neither do all metropolitan cities. I think being a college town where the university is adjacent to downtown really helps maintain a very walkable and vibrant urban core. There are many, many other micropolitan towns that are similar.
I'm honestly glad someone made this thread. There's just not enough conversations about viable micropolitan areas.
Thank you, and I totally agree. I used to be one of those who just had to live in a big city, but the older I get, the less I want that. And apparently a lot of people agree, given how many people are moving here to enjoy this kind of lifestyle. It certainly flies against what most city-data urban junkies assume everyone wants.
Many of them do, particularly college towns like where I am. My recently divorced sister moved down here last year from Wisconsin and lives in a downtown neighborhood in my local micropolitan city and walks to almost everything she needs. She has a 2BR apartment in a vintage 1920s bungalow and pays much less in rent what she paid in WI, and it includes all utilities. 10 gig internet, too. She enjoys a nearly car-free lifestyle; the town even has its own bus system. The walkscore of her neighborhood is 88. The town is small enough to where even if she needs to drive somewhere, it doesn't take her more than a few minutes. No such thing as rush hour (she walks to work anyway).
I realize that not all micropolitan towns offer this, but neither do all metropolitan cities. I think being a college town where the university is adjacent to downtown really helps maintain a very walkable and vibrant urban core. There are many, many other micropolitan towns that are similar.
Thank you for this feedback and I agree that small college towns can provide walkability and affordability. An older thread that I gave an update to due to the relative affordability(even several years later) of a couple of small cities near me made me think of this. One is a college town similar to what you described and another is a little bigger, but is also in a micro area. So, I think this is more common that realized or considered.
I'm honestly glad someone made this thread. There's just not enough conversations about viable micropolitan areas.
I agree. Just as interesting as the metros.
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