Tyler Posted 95.4 Percent Employment Rate
Tyler posted a 95.4 percent employment rate for July, an increase of four-tenths of a percentage point over the July 2006 rate.The state's rate slipped three-tenths of a percentage point last month, according to a Texas Workforce Commission report on Friday.The Tyler area saw a net 700-job decrease as local school districts reduced their staffs for the summer, the TWC said. Professional and business services experienced a 100-job gain, and all remaining categories saw no change.The Tyler area has gained 200 jobs since January and 1,000 jobs since July 2006, the report said.Longview also saw an employment rate increase from 94.5 percent a year ago, to 95.3 percent in July. The area saw a net job loss of 400.Government decreased by 400 jobs, and manufacturing de-creased by 100 jobs, the report said. Trade, transportation and utilities gained 100 jobs.Longview has added 1,000 new jobs since January and 1,900 jobs since July 2006.Seasonally adjusted nonagricultural employment in Texas grew by 29,400 jobs in July, the third largest gain this year. The state's employment rate dipped from 95.9 percent in June to 95.6 percent, but was up significantly from 95.1 percent a year ago and higher than the national rate of 95.4 percent.The state's annual job growth rate is a strong 2.6 percent with Texas employers adding 265,900 jobs over the past 12 months."Texas employers continue to create jobs at an exceptional pace, reflecting the underlying strength of our state's economy," said TWC Chairwoman Diane Rath. "By outpacing the national job growth rate, Texas offers job seekers tremendous opportunities."Midland experienced the highest employment rate in the state, at 96.8 percent. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission saw the lowest, at 92.8 percent.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Tyler News
This year property taxes will drop 2.5 cents from 22.37 cents per $100 valuation to 19.9 cents per $100 valuation, resulting in a 7.6 percent drop in the average tax bill. And, despite valuation increases, the city will still be collecting less in property taxes than it did 15 years ago.This year's taxable values grew $600 million from last year's $5.57 billion to $6.17 billion. The jump represents a 10.8 percent increase over last year's budget.But even with appraisals up, many property owners could receive a lower tax bill because of the elimination of the general bond debt.Sales tax revenues are expected to grow by about 5 percent during the coming fiscal year, city officials say, going from $23,008,800 to $24,159,240.The budget also suggests a bill increase of about 13 cents per month for regular trash pick-up services.MAJOR EXPENDITURESThis year's budget provides for a 4 percent pay increase for city employees, and funding increases for traffic and road management, public safety and the city's parks department.$32.37 million was set aside for public safety and will pay for the addition of 12 new firefighters, a new fire truck, two additional bicycle/traffic officers and a number of other improvements.The city parks department will receive $3.6 million, which will fund several major projects such as the renovation of park restrooms and water fountains. The city also plans to plant 150 new trees over the next year, and has created the new position of city arborist to maintain both new and pre-existing trees throughout the city.Traffic operations and road projects will receive a boost in funding from the $2.46 million set aside for their budget.The city expects to launch a major overlay project and expand a new traffic management system to help alleviate traffic congestion, during the course of the coming year.Regular City Council meetings are held on the second and forth Wednesday of every month at 9 a.m. at City Hall.Other items approved during Wednesday's regular City Council meeting include:
Resolution approving the issuance of Tyler Health Facilities Development Corporation Revenue Bonds to finance and refinance certain projects for East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System.
Payment to Boren Scott Title Company in the amount of $265,393 for acquisition of right-of-way for Phase Two of the Grande Boulevard extension project.
Contract for the 2007 asphalt overlay project to the low bidder Simon Traylor and Sons, Incorporated for $279,936.
Award quote for the 2006 Community Development Block Grant sidewalk project in the amount of $12,770 to Johnson Construction.
Resolution approving the issuance of Tyler Health Facilities Development Corporation Revenue Bonds to finance and refinance certain projects for East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System.
Payment to Boren Scott Title Company in the amount of $265,393 for acquisition of right-of-way for Phase Two of the Grande Boulevard extension project.
Contract for the 2007 asphalt overlay project to the low bidder Simon Traylor and Sons, Incorporated for $279,936.
Award quote for the 2006 Community Development Block Grant sidewalk project in the amount of $12,770 to Johnson Construction.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tyler Population Up 12.5% in 6 Years
By TOM MITSOFF
Web Editor
The City of Tyler's population was 94,146 on July 1, 2006, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau today.That is up from the 83,650 in the official 2000 U.S. Census. Population in the city has grown each year since 2000, according to the bureau's estimates, including by 2,177 between 2005 and 2006, or 2.3 percent.Among East Texas cities, Lindale had the highest percentage of growth from 2005 to 2006, up 6.9 percent (4,010 to 4,290), and Bullard 6.1 percent (1,560 to 1,656). Mabank was up 3.4 percent, and Whitehouse was up 2.9 percent (7,116 to 7,327). Other growth rates in East Texas from 2005 to 2006 include Quitman, Mount Pleasant, Alba, Yantis and Chandler, 2.5 percent each; Mineola and Canton, 2.0 each; Gun Barrel City, 1.8; Hawkins, 1.7; Noonday, 1.6; New Chapel Hill and Troup, 1.5 each; Winnsboro, 1.4; Longview, Kerens, Pittsburg and Wills Point 1.3; Frankston, 1.2; Palestine, Van and Kilgore 1.1; Lufkin and Grand Saline, 1.0; Overton, Winona, Arp, Gladewater, Tool, Tatum, Nacogdoches, Henderson, Carthage, Marshall, Sulphur Springs, Athens, New Summerfield, Big Sandy, Payne Springs, Coffee City, Jacksonville, Rusk, Malakoff, Brownsboro, Murchison, Gilmer, Athens, New Summerfield and Alto all had growth rates of less than 1 percent.No East Texas towns and cities lost population between 2005 and 2006, according to the Census Bureau estimates.Between July 1, 2000 and the same day in 2006, the Census Bureau estimates that Lindale's population grew 45.2 percent (from 2,954 to 4,290). Other area six-year growth rates include Bullard 44 percent; Whitehouse 37 percent; Mabank 31 percent; Chandler 22 percent; Gun Barrel City, 17 percent; Yantis 14 percent; Hawkins 12 percent; Mineola, Athens and Wills Point 11 percent each; Canton and Quitman 10 percent each; Van 9 percent; Kerens, Tool, Noonday and Payne Springs, 8 percent each; Winnsboro, Grand Saline, Brownsboro, Murchison and Gilmer, 7 percent; Troup, Coffee City, Kilgore and Pittsburg, 6 percent; Sulphur Springs 5 percent; Winona, Ore City, Big Sandy, Frankston, Malakoff, Longview, Arp, Nacogdoches, New Summerfield, 4 percent; Gladewater, Jacksonville, Lufkin and Palestine and Henderson, 3 percent; and Tatum and Rusk, 1 percent.Census Bureau estimates show that Alto lost 40 residents, or about 3.3 percent of its population, between 2000 and 2006.
Web Editor
The City of Tyler's population was 94,146 on July 1, 2006, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau today.That is up from the 83,650 in the official 2000 U.S. Census. Population in the city has grown each year since 2000, according to the bureau's estimates, including by 2,177 between 2005 and 2006, or 2.3 percent.Among East Texas cities, Lindale had the highest percentage of growth from 2005 to 2006, up 6.9 percent (4,010 to 4,290), and Bullard 6.1 percent (1,560 to 1,656). Mabank was up 3.4 percent, and Whitehouse was up 2.9 percent (7,116 to 7,327). Other growth rates in East Texas from 2005 to 2006 include Quitman, Mount Pleasant, Alba, Yantis and Chandler, 2.5 percent each; Mineola and Canton, 2.0 each; Gun Barrel City, 1.8; Hawkins, 1.7; Noonday, 1.6; New Chapel Hill and Troup, 1.5 each; Winnsboro, 1.4; Longview, Kerens, Pittsburg and Wills Point 1.3; Frankston, 1.2; Palestine, Van and Kilgore 1.1; Lufkin and Grand Saline, 1.0; Overton, Winona, Arp, Gladewater, Tool, Tatum, Nacogdoches, Henderson, Carthage, Marshall, Sulphur Springs, Athens, New Summerfield, Big Sandy, Payne Springs, Coffee City, Jacksonville, Rusk, Malakoff, Brownsboro, Murchison, Gilmer, Athens, New Summerfield and Alto all had growth rates of less than 1 percent.No East Texas towns and cities lost population between 2005 and 2006, according to the Census Bureau estimates.Between July 1, 2000 and the same day in 2006, the Census Bureau estimates that Lindale's population grew 45.2 percent (from 2,954 to 4,290). Other area six-year growth rates include Bullard 44 percent; Whitehouse 37 percent; Mabank 31 percent; Chandler 22 percent; Gun Barrel City, 17 percent; Yantis 14 percent; Hawkins 12 percent; Mineola, Athens and Wills Point 11 percent each; Canton and Quitman 10 percent each; Van 9 percent; Kerens, Tool, Noonday and Payne Springs, 8 percent each; Winnsboro, Grand Saline, Brownsboro, Murchison and Gilmer, 7 percent; Troup, Coffee City, Kilgore and Pittsburg, 6 percent; Sulphur Springs 5 percent; Winona, Ore City, Big Sandy, Frankston, Malakoff, Longview, Arp, Nacogdoches, New Summerfield, 4 percent; Gladewater, Jacksonville, Lufkin and Palestine and Henderson, 3 percent; and Tatum and Rusk, 1 percent.Census Bureau estimates show that Alto lost 40 residents, or about 3.3 percent of its population, between 2000 and 2006.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Building Permits
Article published Jun 17, 2007
Building Permits
The city of Tyler issued 47 building permits, for $21.81 million in estimated construction valuation, during the week of June 3-9. Through May, the city issued 2,796 permits for an estimated valuation of $119.62 million. Through May 2006 it issued 2,895 permits for an estimated valuation of $104.73 million.
Permits issued June 3-9:
COMMERCIAL
Green Acres Baptist Church, 1607 Troup Highway, three stories, 100,440 square feet new construction and addition to education building, $16 million.
Ken Mass, 612 N. Border Ave., 450 square feet, Mass Barber Shop, $37,500.
Heritage Properties, 5348 Old Jacksonville Highway, grading permit, no value listed.
COMMERCIAL REMODEL
First Baptist Church, 301 W. Ferguson St., $4,600.
Burns & Noble, 110 N. College Ave., $455,560.
Marla and Alan Jasper, 217 N. College Ave., $36,000.
RESIDENTIAL
Ron-Slo Inc., 764 Esperanza Place, two stories, 3,300 square feet, $412,500.
Ron-Slo Inc., 766 Esperanza Place, two stories, 3,958 square feet, $494,750.
Ron-Slo Inc., 768 Esperanza Place, two stories, 3,741 square feet, $467,625.
Ron-Slo Inc., 770 Esperanza Place, two stories, 3,300 square feet, $412,500.
Ron-Slo Inc., 1120 La Vista Drive, two stories, 4,909 square feet, $613,625.
Deborah Davis, 6708 Fleta Circle, 2,225 square feet, $209,284.
Jim and Pam Essman, 1403 Old Creek Drive, add 312 square feet, $25,000.
Gene Johnson Homes, 415 E. Frazier St., 1,753 square feet, $75,000.
Pyramid Homes, 6811 Mandy Lane, 2,412 square feet, $212,328.
Stricklin Homes Inc., 7009 Walden Drive, 1.5 stories, 4,161 square feet, $366,292.
Lester and Phyliss Tucker, 1315 Bradley Ave., add 1,000 square feet, $20,000.
Habitat for Humanity of Smith County, 1831 Alice St., 1,172 square feet, $103,171.
Mauricio Orrostieta, 3615 Gish Lane, 480-square-foot storage shed, $4,000.
Riverbend Custom Homes, 810 Marquette Lane, 3,314 square feet, $291,731.
Baker Realty Group, 8412 Stonebridge Way, 2,547 square feet, $239,570.
Lindale Homes, 2543 Guinn Farms Road, 2,225 square feet, $195,867.
Darrell Guthrie, 840 Colonial Drive, carport, $14,500.
Griselda Alexander, 3206 Rolling Hill Drive, add 348 square feet, $15,000.
Bob Kurtz Homes, 7005 Walden Drive, 3,376 square feet, $340,000.
RESIDENTIAL REMODEL
Robert Pirtle, 115 E. Second St., $60,000.
Edda Nina Lewis, 403 Southgate Ave., $15,000.
Belinda Roger, 714 Bennett, $4,500.HVACSeventeen permits for 27 units, $548,613.
SIGNOne permit, $1,000.
SWIMMING POOLTwo permits, $135,000.
Building Permits
The city of Tyler issued 47 building permits, for $21.81 million in estimated construction valuation, during the week of June 3-9. Through May, the city issued 2,796 permits for an estimated valuation of $119.62 million. Through May 2006 it issued 2,895 permits for an estimated valuation of $104.73 million.
Permits issued June 3-9:
COMMERCIAL
Green Acres Baptist Church, 1607 Troup Highway, three stories, 100,440 square feet new construction and addition to education building, $16 million.
Ken Mass, 612 N. Border Ave., 450 square feet, Mass Barber Shop, $37,500.
Heritage Properties, 5348 Old Jacksonville Highway, grading permit, no value listed.
COMMERCIAL REMODEL
First Baptist Church, 301 W. Ferguson St., $4,600.
Burns & Noble, 110 N. College Ave., $455,560.
Marla and Alan Jasper, 217 N. College Ave., $36,000.
RESIDENTIAL
Ron-Slo Inc., 764 Esperanza Place, two stories, 3,300 square feet, $412,500.
Ron-Slo Inc., 766 Esperanza Place, two stories, 3,958 square feet, $494,750.
Ron-Slo Inc., 768 Esperanza Place, two stories, 3,741 square feet, $467,625.
Ron-Slo Inc., 770 Esperanza Place, two stories, 3,300 square feet, $412,500.
Ron-Slo Inc., 1120 La Vista Drive, two stories, 4,909 square feet, $613,625.
Deborah Davis, 6708 Fleta Circle, 2,225 square feet, $209,284.
Jim and Pam Essman, 1403 Old Creek Drive, add 312 square feet, $25,000.
Gene Johnson Homes, 415 E. Frazier St., 1,753 square feet, $75,000.
Pyramid Homes, 6811 Mandy Lane, 2,412 square feet, $212,328.
Stricklin Homes Inc., 7009 Walden Drive, 1.5 stories, 4,161 square feet, $366,292.
Lester and Phyliss Tucker, 1315 Bradley Ave., add 1,000 square feet, $20,000.
Habitat for Humanity of Smith County, 1831 Alice St., 1,172 square feet, $103,171.
Mauricio Orrostieta, 3615 Gish Lane, 480-square-foot storage shed, $4,000.
Riverbend Custom Homes, 810 Marquette Lane, 3,314 square feet, $291,731.
Baker Realty Group, 8412 Stonebridge Way, 2,547 square feet, $239,570.
Lindale Homes, 2543 Guinn Farms Road, 2,225 square feet, $195,867.
Darrell Guthrie, 840 Colonial Drive, carport, $14,500.
Griselda Alexander, 3206 Rolling Hill Drive, add 348 square feet, $15,000.
Bob Kurtz Homes, 7005 Walden Drive, 3,376 square feet, $340,000.
RESIDENTIAL REMODEL
Robert Pirtle, 115 E. Second St., $60,000.
Edda Nina Lewis, 403 Southgate Ave., $15,000.
Belinda Roger, 714 Bennett, $4,500.HVACSeventeen permits for 27 units, $548,613.
SIGNOne permit, $1,000.
SWIMMING POOLTwo permits, $135,000.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
Building Permits, April 29
The city of Tyler issued 34 building permits, for $3.3 million in estimated construction valuation during the week of April 15-21. Through March, the city issued 1,737 permits for an estimated valuation of $87.63 million. Through March 2006 it issued 1,615 permits for an estimated valuation of $48.81 million.
Permits issued April 15-21:
COMMERCIAL
Hall & Associates, 7938 S. Broadway Ave., 16,000 square feet, Broadway Commons, $1.4 million.
Refuge Church of Tyler, 1300 E. Duncan St., grading permit, no value listed.COMMERCIAL
REMODEL
Charles and Christi Taylor, 105 N. Spring Ave., No. 8, $1,500.
Brookshire Grocery Co., 113 NNW Loop 323, $80,000.
Dr. Scott Ellis, 5611 Old Bullard Road, $39,800.
Danny Allen-Nu Tech Corp., 1301 Clinic Drive, $48,000.
Roosth Properties, 4019 S. Broadway Ave., $46,500.RESIDENTIAL
Andrew and Sue Kulaga, 1015 Wilder Place, outdoor kitchen and sewer pump, $45,000.
Lindale Homes, 5841 Thompson Place, two stories, 2,606 square feet, $224,406.
Antasnet Nelson, 2108 Wolford Ave., add carport, $1,500.
Barry Robinson, 1719 E. Elm St., grading permit, no value listed.
Lindale Homes, 2529 Meadowland Court, 2,131 square feet, $187,592.
Cooper Quality Homes, 8375 Castlelton Way, 4,300 square feet, $378,529.
Gerardo Ramirez, 2135 Glenview Ave., structural alteration and add carport, $500.
Conaway Homes, 6039 Grace Ave., two stories, 3,997 square feet, $351,855.
Lindale Homes, 2536 Meadowland Court, 2,740 square feet, $241,202.RESIDENTIAL
REMODEL
Jose Ruben Alvarez, 807 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., enclose carport, $1,500.
Joe Lister, 5065 Ross Ave., $10,000.HVACEleven permits for 14 units and one condenser, $99,524SIGNTwo permits, $12,500.SWIMMING POOLThree permits, $127,500.
Permits issued April 15-21:
COMMERCIAL
Hall & Associates, 7938 S. Broadway Ave., 16,000 square feet, Broadway Commons, $1.4 million.
Refuge Church of Tyler, 1300 E. Duncan St., grading permit, no value listed.COMMERCIAL
REMODEL
Charles and Christi Taylor, 105 N. Spring Ave., No. 8, $1,500.
Brookshire Grocery Co., 113 NNW Loop 323, $80,000.
Dr. Scott Ellis, 5611 Old Bullard Road, $39,800.
Danny Allen-Nu Tech Corp., 1301 Clinic Drive, $48,000.
Roosth Properties, 4019 S. Broadway Ave., $46,500.RESIDENTIAL
Andrew and Sue Kulaga, 1015 Wilder Place, outdoor kitchen and sewer pump, $45,000.
Lindale Homes, 5841 Thompson Place, two stories, 2,606 square feet, $224,406.
Antasnet Nelson, 2108 Wolford Ave., add carport, $1,500.
Barry Robinson, 1719 E. Elm St., grading permit, no value listed.
Lindale Homes, 2529 Meadowland Court, 2,131 square feet, $187,592.
Cooper Quality Homes, 8375 Castlelton Way, 4,300 square feet, $378,529.
Gerardo Ramirez, 2135 Glenview Ave., structural alteration and add carport, $500.
Conaway Homes, 6039 Grace Ave., two stories, 3,997 square feet, $351,855.
Lindale Homes, 2536 Meadowland Court, 2,740 square feet, $241,202.RESIDENTIAL
REMODEL
Jose Ruben Alvarez, 807 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., enclose carport, $1,500.
Joe Lister, 5065 Ross Ave., $10,000.HVACEleven permits for 14 units and one condenser, $99,524SIGNTwo permits, $12,500.SWIMMING POOLThree permits, $127,500.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Smith County Makes Big Gains
From Staff, Wire Reports
Smith County saw a population increase from 190,501 to 194,635 from July 1, 2005, to July 1, 2006, a one-year increase of 2.2 percent, accodring to a U.S. Census Bureau report released Thursday."Our growing population is a positive result of the planning and vision of caring members of our community, both past and present," County Judge Joel Baker said. "Smith County provides many opportunities for its citizens, and it is a great place for people to live, work and raise their families."But growth brings challenges, he added."With these positive changes come an increased demand for services and infrastructure and challenges to find the necessary funding," Baker said. "I am confident that we will all work together to find solutions to meet the needs of a thriving community."Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber said the news comes as no surprise."This confirms what we've known for some time, that we're seeing an increased demand for city services," he said. "It's also an indication the city and county are growing at a rate greater than we did in the last decade."That's why the city is currently engaged in the Tyler 21 long-range planning process."We recognize our city is growing and growing faster, and we need to be prepared for the growth we expect to continue in the next 20 and 30 years," Seeber said.Some Texas counties were among the fastest-growing in the report, which showed that the pace of rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina has slowed, leaving New Orleans and some other Gulf Coast areas with less than half the people they had before the storm. And some of the hardest hit might never regain their population, experts say.The latest Census Bureau estimates say that 10 months after the hurricane, Orleans Parish in Louisiana had slightly less than half the people it did before the storm. Nearby St. Bernard Parish had less than a fourth of its pre-storm population.The estimates were for July 1, 2006, but experts said few people have moved back since then."We're still doing cleanup but not bringing many housing units on line," said Greg Rigamer, a demographer in New Orleans. "We are in the process of rehabbing a lot of properties. It takes time to do that."Other Gulf Coast communities, meanwhile, have grown as hurricane victims fled to nearby cities and Americans continued a decades-long migration to coastal areas, according the new Census Bureau estimates.Harris County, home to Houston, added more than 123,000 people from 2005 to 2006. Houston attracted many Katrina refugees.The Census Bureau estimates annual county population totals as of July 1, using local records of births and deaths, IRS records of people moving within the United States and census statistics on immigrants.Smith County's growth has been steady, adding 3,000 to 4,000 or so each year since 2000, the bureau's tables show. In 2000, Smith County had a population of 175,453. Over the next six years, the population growth totaled 19,182 new residents, or an increase of 10.9 percent.Rigamer said the Census estimates for the New Orleans area were consistent with his research.Among the bureau's findings:
Of the five U.S. counties that lost the most people from 2005 to 2006, four were hit by Hurricane Katrina. The biggest decrease was in Orleans Parish, where the population dropped by nearly 229,000, to about 223,400. The others were St. Bernard Parish, La.; Harrison County, Miss., and Jefferson Parish, La.Wayne County, Mich., rounded out the top five in population loss. The county, which includes Detroit, has been hit by layoffs in the automotive industry.
Maricopa County, Ariz., home to Phoenix, added the most people from 2005 to 2006. The county added nearly 130,000, to about 3.8 million. It was followed by Harris County, Texas; Riverside County, Calif.; Clark County, Nev., and Tarrant County, Texas.
Chattahoochee County, Ga., had the highest percentage growth from 2005 to 2006, at 13.2 percent, to just over 14,000 people.
St. Bernard Parish had the biggest percentage decline from 2005 to 2006, losing 76.2 percent of its population, to about 15,500.University of New Orleans political scientist Susan Howell said a lot of people are moving in and out of New Orleans even as the overall population number has stabilized.Howell surveyed city residents last fall and found that about a third were considering leaving the city in the next two years. She said the biggest reasons were crime, the slow pace of recovery and concerns about flooding."The full population will not come back," Howell said. "But it will certainly, at some point, stabilize. The question is, will it stabilize at a point where people will have a good quality of life?"Al Palumbo, branch manager for a New Orleans real estate agency, said it is a buyer's market in many of the neighborhoods that were hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina.He said there are many opportunities for young people to move into areas where they could not afford to live before the storm."I think this is going to be a younger town," Palumbo said.
Smith County saw a population increase from 190,501 to 194,635 from July 1, 2005, to July 1, 2006, a one-year increase of 2.2 percent, accodring to a U.S. Census Bureau report released Thursday."Our growing population is a positive result of the planning and vision of caring members of our community, both past and present," County Judge Joel Baker said. "Smith County provides many opportunities for its citizens, and it is a great place for people to live, work and raise their families."But growth brings challenges, he added."With these positive changes come an increased demand for services and infrastructure and challenges to find the necessary funding," Baker said. "I am confident that we will all work together to find solutions to meet the needs of a thriving community."Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber said the news comes as no surprise."This confirms what we've known for some time, that we're seeing an increased demand for city services," he said. "It's also an indication the city and county are growing at a rate greater than we did in the last decade."That's why the city is currently engaged in the Tyler 21 long-range planning process."We recognize our city is growing and growing faster, and we need to be prepared for the growth we expect to continue in the next 20 and 30 years," Seeber said.Some Texas counties were among the fastest-growing in the report, which showed that the pace of rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina has slowed, leaving New Orleans and some other Gulf Coast areas with less than half the people they had before the storm. And some of the hardest hit might never regain their population, experts say.The latest Census Bureau estimates say that 10 months after the hurricane, Orleans Parish in Louisiana had slightly less than half the people it did before the storm. Nearby St. Bernard Parish had less than a fourth of its pre-storm population.The estimates were for July 1, 2006, but experts said few people have moved back since then."We're still doing cleanup but not bringing many housing units on line," said Greg Rigamer, a demographer in New Orleans. "We are in the process of rehabbing a lot of properties. It takes time to do that."Other Gulf Coast communities, meanwhile, have grown as hurricane victims fled to nearby cities and Americans continued a decades-long migration to coastal areas, according the new Census Bureau estimates.Harris County, home to Houston, added more than 123,000 people from 2005 to 2006. Houston attracted many Katrina refugees.The Census Bureau estimates annual county population totals as of July 1, using local records of births and deaths, IRS records of people moving within the United States and census statistics on immigrants.Smith County's growth has been steady, adding 3,000 to 4,000 or so each year since 2000, the bureau's tables show. In 2000, Smith County had a population of 175,453. Over the next six years, the population growth totaled 19,182 new residents, or an increase of 10.9 percent.Rigamer said the Census estimates for the New Orleans area were consistent with his research.Among the bureau's findings:
Of the five U.S. counties that lost the most people from 2005 to 2006, four were hit by Hurricane Katrina. The biggest decrease was in Orleans Parish, where the population dropped by nearly 229,000, to about 223,400. The others were St. Bernard Parish, La.; Harrison County, Miss., and Jefferson Parish, La.Wayne County, Mich., rounded out the top five in population loss. The county, which includes Detroit, has been hit by layoffs in the automotive industry.
Maricopa County, Ariz., home to Phoenix, added the most people from 2005 to 2006. The county added nearly 130,000, to about 3.8 million. It was followed by Harris County, Texas; Riverside County, Calif.; Clark County, Nev., and Tarrant County, Texas.
Chattahoochee County, Ga., had the highest percentage growth from 2005 to 2006, at 13.2 percent, to just over 14,000 people.
St. Bernard Parish had the biggest percentage decline from 2005 to 2006, losing 76.2 percent of its population, to about 15,500.University of New Orleans political scientist Susan Howell said a lot of people are moving in and out of New Orleans even as the overall population number has stabilized.Howell surveyed city residents last fall and found that about a third were considering leaving the city in the next two years. She said the biggest reasons were crime, the slow pace of recovery and concerns about flooding."The full population will not come back," Howell said. "But it will certainly, at some point, stabilize. The question is, will it stabilize at a point where people will have a good quality of life?"Al Palumbo, branch manager for a New Orleans real estate agency, said it is a buyer's market in many of the neighborhoods that were hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina.He said there are many opportunities for young people to move into areas where they could not afford to live before the storm."I think this is going to be a younger town," Palumbo said.
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