Pittsburgh is growing (albeit slowly) more in the city than the suburbs (Altoona: townhomes, employment)

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by Losfrisco

Its near the top for urban growth, 2.4%.

See this "contradicts" Kat's statement. Denver's city limits are so large, the growth could be classified as suburban and not urban, yet its in the city category.

[Losfrisco]

Originally Posted by speagles84

See this "contradicts" Kat's statement. Denver's city limits are so large, the growth could be classified as suburban and not urban, yet its in the city category.

I agree, same for Columbus, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, etc.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by speagles84

See this "contradicts" Kat's statement. Denver's city limits are so large, the growth could be classified as suburban and not urban, yet its in the city category.

Originally Posted by Losfrisco

I agree, same for Columbus, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, etc.

How is it contradictory? Denver and all these cities have city limits, outside of which are the suburbs. They're not looking at, I don't think, urban "form", they're looking at political divisions. Denver is ~ 150 sq. mi., 50 of which are the airport. The built part of the city, where people live, is ~100 sq. miles and it can't annex w/o a vote of the entire county of the area being annexed. The only time this has happened since this amendment to the constitution was passed was the annexation of the airport land.

[zman63]

The other thing that nobody is mentioning.

Pittsburgh's 2010 population was 305,704
the 2011 estimate was 307,000
the 2012 estimate was 306,000

We have yet to see the 2013 estimates, but it appears the estimates show a decline from 2011 to 2012. The other thing hampering pittsburgh and the metro is more deaths than births as we are an older region. In Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) the birth rate is much higher than ours. Even though they may be declining there are more people having children there than here. I see the population stabilizing and growing slowly there the next few years.

There was a link I posted in a thread a few months back. It had the 100 largest us counties and their population estimates to 2060. Allegheny County was predicted to be around 1.26 million. Right now we are at 1.23 million. Cuyahoga County, Ohio was predicted to be around 1.45 million in 2060. Right now they are at 1.28 million.

The collapse of the steel industry in pittsburgh has set this region towards a path of anemic growth the next 60 to100 years. IMO the loss of generations is going to be a tough thing to overcome. Even 30 years after the collapse it is barely holding on to growth if any at all. The inmigration and births won't be enough to accelerate growth and offset deaths. All the cities you mention did not have the collapse that Pittsburgh had in the late 70s and 80s.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by zman63

Pittsburgh's 2010 population was 305,704
the 2011 estimate was 307,000
the 2012 estimate was 306,000

I agree that it is too small of a differences to tell. We're talking about a .1% change (or a .4% change from 2010 to 2011) for an estimate provided with no 95% confidence interval and a methodology not specifically adapted to this city or region. Pittsburgh's metro population is going to bottom out and may have bottomed out already, but we don't know yet.

[PreservationPioneer]

Eh, people suck. That's why sometimes it's smart to isolate yourself from them.

[zman63]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

I agree that it is too small of a differences to tell. We're talking about a .1% change (or a .4% change from 2010 to 2011) for an estimate provided with no 95% confidence interval and a methodology not specifically adapted to this city or region. Pittsburgh's metro population is going to bottom out and may have bottomed out already, but we don't know yet.

What if the tiny population growth was accurate, but it was more of people staying put due to the recession and economic conditions? Other cities and metros have improved a lot since 2011 and 2012. Pittsburgh is not a high growth area in jobs and wages. Also i read that the adjustment upward was due to the dormitory and correctional populations. Is that real sustainable growth?

It just seems there are more questions than answers when it comes to population growth. The older population, low birthrate, low inmigration, low immigration and the 27-45 age group as the smallest does not bode well for long term growth. IMO the limited economic opportunity, low wages and weather hinder growth and people staying.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by zman63

Also i read that the adjustment upward was due to the dormitory and correctional populations. Is that real sustainable growth?

As long as both of them are increasing, there's some balance. If we legalize pot, the first will go up and the second down.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by zman63

The other thing that nobody is mentioning.

Pittsburgh's 2010 population was 305,704
the 2011 estimate was 307,000
the 2012 estimate was 306,000

We have yet to see the 2013 estimates, but it appears the estimates show a decline from 2011 to 2012. The other thing hampering pittsburgh and the metro is more deaths than births as we are an older region. In Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) the birth rate is much higher than ours. Even though they may be declining there are more people having children there than here. I see the population stabilizing and growing slowly there the next few years.

There was a link I posted in a thread a few months back. It had the 100 largest us counties and their population estimates to 2060. Allegheny County was predicted to be around 1.26 million. Right now we are at 1.23 million. Cuyahoga County, Ohio was predicted to be around 1.45 million in 2060. Right now they are at 1.28 million.

The collapse of the steel industry in pittsburgh has set this region towards a path of anemic growth the next 60 to100 years. IMO the loss of generations is going to be a tough thing to overcome. Even 30 years after the collapse it is barely holding on to growth if any at all. The inmigration and births won't be enough to accelerate growth and offset deaths. All the cities you mention did not have the collapse that Pittsburgh had in the late 70s and 80s.

And I'm pretty sure we are going to be attacked by locusts.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by Losfrisco

Interesting. I still can't understand why anyone would want to live in a suburban area. Its not worth it to me to exile yourself for more personal living space.

i used to think that. what is 'exile'? to some people, that is a reward for years of working and saving. that is what they want on a daily basis. beats drunks, gunfire, and sirens at 2AM.