Texas Border Business
McALLEN (JUNE 24, 2013) – McAllen’s population has increased by nearly 5,000 residents over the last two years sustaining an upward growth pattern that would put its population over 150,000 by the decade’s end if not sooner, according 2012 U.S. Census estimates released in June.
The new Census data set has the City of McAllen estimated population on July 1, 2012 at 134,719, an increase of 4,842, or 3.7%, over the 2010 decennial count of 129,877. The Census did not estimate household income, education attainment and host of other data as part of the report. The federal government only conducts a full decennial census every decade, but regularly updates population figures with estimates.
Most Rio Grande Valley and Texas cities reported population gains, although not many grew as fast as McAllen. The fastest growth occurred in the suburbs of Austin, Houston and Dallas where some cities’ expanded up to 12%. Austin itself is growing at a 6% clip. Among the Valley’s largest cities, Edinburg grew the fastest at 5.3% to reach 81,029 residents. Mission is just behind it at 80,429 and 4% growth. The Valley’s largest city, Brownsville, is up to 180,000, 5,000 more than two years ago up 2.9%.
Hidalgo County, which encompasses the McAllen metro area, increased its population 4.1 %to 806,552, according to the Census estimate. Hidalgo County leaders believe the area was undercounted in the 2010 Census, and its current population is much higher than the federal agency has recorded. Cameron County was up 2.3% to an estimated 415,557.
There are many factors that can impact a city’s population such as the economy, birth rates, immigration and housing. However, if McAllen is able to sustain its 3.7% population growth rate every two years, the city would approach 156,000 residents by 2020, or in 6½ years. It would be the first city in Hidalgo County to break 150,000. The previous decade saw McAllen grow by 23,463 people, and back in 1990 the City’s population was 84,200. So in 22 years, McAllen has expanded by about 50,500 people.
