The Texas-Megalopolis (Houston, Dallas, Austin: military, rated, area)

[TXTwizter]

Heres what I think is a good possibility.

DFW reaching Oklahoma Border...........2035
San Antonio - Austin...........2030
Austin - Temple...............2025
Temple - Waco...............2030
DFW - San Antonio.......Not in this century!!!

DFW overtaking Chicago as far as metro population, becoming #3..............2025-2040

Now if you think about it, its almost 2008, so some of these target dates are as low as 17 years away. When you look at the exploding growth we have had in Texas over the last 30 years, if it continues alot of this WILL be reality.

[Athena78]

People seem to be so obsessed with population figures. If you leave SA to New Braunfels, you'll notice that there isn't much undeveloped space anymore, but when you do leave NB towards San Marcos, there are about 8 miles of undeveloped space. After that SM, Kyle, Buda, and Austin seem to be more connected with lots of undeveloped land here and there. I can't see SA to Austin connecting anytime soon. Even if the population of NB and Sm booms, it doesn't seem to be going towards each other. It's going to take a very long time. I don't see how SA to Austin hasn't been considered a CSA since there is significant travel between both cities. I'm sure it will happen eventually.

As far as past Austin, Kileen/Temple may eventually connect to Georgetown, Round Rock, and Austin, but I don't see it connecting to Waco. Also Dallas/Fort Worth is pretty far alway from Waco itself. I don't see any of that growing together in this century.

[Guerilla]

Originally Posted by JVTX72

Heres what I think is a good possibility.

DFW reaching Oklahoma Border...........2035
San Antonio - Austin...........2030
Austin - Temple...............2025
Temple - Waco...............2030
DFW - San Antonio.......Not in this century!!!

DFW overtaking Chicago as far as metro population, becoming #3..............2025-2040

Now if you think about it, its almost 2008, so some of these target dates are as low as 17 years away. When you look at the exploding growth we have had in Texas over the last 30 years, if it continues alot of this WILL be reality.

With Houston only being about 400,000 behind DFW in the MSA population, I see Houston passing up Chicago not long after that. Despite that, you have to remember than San Fran and San Jose will be soon considered a MSA instead of a CSA. Same with D.C. Baltimore. Those two areas are growing (and in D.C.'s case, just as fast), as DFW, so I think DFW will shoot back down a few (which will actually knock everybody back).

[TXTwizter]

I don't see the growth in DFW slowing down anytime soon.

[Guerilla]

Originally Posted by JVTX72

I don't see the growth in DFW slowing down anytime soon.

I don't see it slowing down either, but it still won't pass the Bay Area (which will be a MSA soon), Chicago, and DC-Baltimore (same situation as the Bay Area), for a while. The Bay Area alone has a 1.5 million lead on DFW, but the Bay isn't growing like it use to, so DFW will have no problem surpassing them by 2025.

[TXTwizter]

Although the growth is good for our economy, I sure hope we dont turn into another LA. Hopefully the powers that be will plan accordingly!!!

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by JVTX72

The question is will there ever be a Megalopolis in Texas from DFW to San Antonio, a continuous urban strip along I-35? And will the DFW sprawl ever reach the Oklahoma border?

Why San Antonio and Dallas? Now, DFW-Waco-Killeen would be interesting. Afterall, Waco isn't doing much by itself, and Killeen-Temple is already a miniature DFW.

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by JVTX72

Heres what I think is a good possibility.

DFW reaching Oklahoma Border...........2035
San Antonio - Austin...........2030
Austin - Temple...............2025
Temple - Waco...............2030
DFW - San Antonio.......Not in this century!!!

DFW overtaking Chicago as far as metro population, becoming #3..............2025-2040

Now if you think about it, its almost 2008, so some of these target dates are as low as 17 years away. When you look at the exploding growth we have had in Texas over the last 30 years, if it continues alot of this WILL be reality.

What does Temple have to do with anything? After Austin, Killeen is the next big thing in Central Texas. Temple is too small, and Waco is about to be surpassed in size by the K.

[TXTwizter]

Well if you read the original post, I specifically said ALONG I-35....Temple is on I-35...Killeen is not, its on US190. Killeen the next big thing??? Hardly! The only thing Killeen has going for it is Fort Hood. Unlike Temple and Waco that actually have industries.

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by JVTX72

Well if you read the original post, I specifically said ALONG I-35....Temple is on I-35...Killeen is not, its on US190. Killeen the next big thing??? Hardly! The only thing Killeen has going for it is Fort Hood. Unlike Temple and Waco that actually have industries.

It's just bad luck that Killeen would be placed off a major interstate, but the city is far from hidden. Not only is it very active, it's very diverse, almost twice as populous as Temple (not including Fort Hood), and it's about to be more populous than Waco.

Besides, most people outside of the state are probably going to ask, "what's a Temple, Texas?"

Sure, Killeen hardly has any industry right now, but in the Killeen-Temple-Ft. Hood metro, Killeen is the key city. It's also a well known city for blacks, which is pretty much non-existant in this part of Texas.