2019 City Populations (Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile: moving to, estimates, activity)

[RocketDawg]

I was searching to see if the July 2018 city population estimates had been released, and ran into this article http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/ that is titled US City Populations 2019. The information at the bottom says it's based on the 2018 Census Bureau Estimates (which have not been released on census.gov yet, so I don't know how they got the information unless they are preliminary numbers). Here are the numbers for the four large cities in Alabama:

Birmingham 210,999
Huntsville 199,487
Montgomery 197,377
Mobile 191,437

Assuming the information is correct, Huntsville is now the 2nd largest city in the state. If trends continue, it's feasible (but I don't think likely) that it could surpass Birmingham by the 2020 Census, since these numbers are almost a year old, being the July 2018 estimates.

When the 2020 Census numbers are released, it would not be surprising to find that Madison County exceeds 400,000 and if so, might surpass Mobile County.

[jero23]

I going off development activity alone there alone from residential permits, I'm almost certain that Birmingham is going remain the largest in the state. Huntsville is doing exceptionally well, but it's likely going to be the same order now. Birmingham is doing urban redevelopment and infill development that is primarily residential or mixed use with large residential components

[TimCity2000]

One thing to consider is that Huntsville has been annexing like crazy over the past decade or two. Just Google "Huntsville annex land" and several stories pop up... 9,000 acres here; 1,100 acres there; etc. It now stretches into 3 counties and is the 38th largest city in the country in land area at 209 square miles (and no, that does not include the Arsenal), by far the largest of Alabama's "Big Four".

I'm not disputing that Huntsville is growing faster, btw. Just saying that city population growth numbers don't always tell the full story. NONE of Alabama's cities are growth juggernauts.

[Teko03]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

One thing to consider is that Huntsville has been annexing like crazy over the past decade or two...

Current Huntsville City limits. The green outline is Madison County, west of that is Limestone County, South of 231 is Morgan County. Madison City is literally boxed in at this point (you can't tell in the photo, but Madison City still has a little of Madison County that it can obtain).

[PortCity]

I think it's possible by 2025 that Madison County could surpass Mobile county,unless things change. I believe Baldwin County has/ or will at least surpass both Shelby and Montgomery counties by the end of the year.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

One thing to consider is that Huntsville has been annexing like crazy over the past decade or two. Just Google "Huntsville annex land" and several stories pop up... 9,000 acres here; 1,100 acres there; etc. It now stretches into 3 counties and is the 38th largest city in the country in land area at 209 square miles (and no, that does not include the Arsenal), by far the largest of Alabama's "Big Four".

I'm not disputing that Huntsville is growing faster, btw. Just saying that city population growth numbers don't always tell the full story. NONE of Alabama's cities are growth juggernauts.

I've read somewhere, and I think it was on a city site, that the population growth is not due to annexation. At first thought, it certainly seems possible that it is, but it might not be. If it was a city site, would it be truly accurate? I dunno.

Some years ago, Montgomery (city) went from about 130,000 to over 200,000 almost overnight. I'm guessing that was from annexation. The city of Montgomery accounts for almost the entire county population, but presumably the people the city is now losing are moving to the suburbs.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by jero23

I going off development activity alone there alone from residential permits, I'm almost certain that Birmingham is going remain the largest in the state. Huntsville is doing exceptionally well, but it's likely going to be the same order now. Birmingham is doing urban redevelopment and infill development that is primarily residential or mixed use with large residential components

I think it will remain the largest too, but I don't know how the Census Bureau does its estimates. Do the current estimates account for the B'ham "urban infill"? Or is the infill not quite able to keep up with losses in other areas on the city? I don't know.

[AU HSV]

Most of the annexed land in far west Huntsville is sparsely populated.
It was annexed mostly for future growth and industry (Toyota/Mazda) as an example.
Annexations only occur if the landowners request it.

[PortCity]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

Some years ago, Montgomery (city) went from about 130,000 to over 200,000 almost overnight. I'm guessing that was from annexation. The city of Montgomery accounts for almost the entire county population, but presumably the people the city is now losing are moving to the suburbs.

It was.It happened in the late 90's early 2000's I believe I was told that Montgmoery is considering a city county consolidation.

[PortCity]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

Most of the annexed land in far west Huntsville is sparsely populated.
It was annexed mostly for future growth and industry (Toyota/Mazda) as an example.
Annexations only occur if the landowners request it.

Or if the city offer the landowner's a deal.