The city of Tulsa's population apparently has grown by 1.2 percent since the 2010 Census and is on track to eclipse the 400,000 mark this year, even though the rate of population increases here and in area cities appeared to be waning.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Tulsa's population at 396,466 on July 1, 2011, according to a Thursday data release.
If Tulsa maintains its current rate of change, the city should top the 400,000 population mark sometime this summer.
Such a milestone would be a plus for recruiting efforts, according to a Tulsa Metro Chamber official.
"It's really very, very good news," said Jim Fram, Tulsa Metro Chamber Senior Vice President of Economic Development.
One of the chief factors considered by employers looking to move to a city is its available workforce, Fram said.
But the milestone for Tulsa comes as population gains in many regional cities and towns slowed compared to the previous year, according to Census figures.
Owasso, which grew by 2.5 percent from 2009 to 2010 and 5 percent from 2008 to 2009, saw just a 0.86 percent population gain from July 1, 2010, to July 1, 2011.
The same slowing growth rate can be found in other area cities.
Glenpool, Jenks and Broken Arrow and saw respective annual population gains of 0.86 percent, 0.87 percent and 0.89 percent during that same time period.
The population in Tulsa increased 0.8 percent during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2011.
The annual rate of increase in previous years in Tulsa was 0.91 percent from 2009 to 2010 and 1 percent from 2008 to 2009.
Fram said Tulsa's modest rate of population increase compared to previous years mirrors economic-related statistics for the region as it continues to emerge from the recession.
"We're not seeing the wild up and down" swings, Fram said.
Elsewhere, Oklahoma City and many of its suburbs grew at faster rates than northeast Oklahoma cities.
The population of Oklahoma City increased 2.1 percent since the 2010 Census, bringing it to 591,967.
The populations in Norman, Edmond and Moore grew by rates of 1.9 percent to 2.2 percent since the 2010 census.
Meanwhile, Broken Arrow became the fourth city in the state to top the 100,000 population mark with a Census tally of 100,073 on July 1, 2011.
Broken Arrow officials said they had hoped the city would hit the 100,000 population mark by the 2010 Census.
"In our minds it was only a matter of time before we broke that 100,000 mark," city spokeswoman Stephanie Higgins said. "I don't think there is anything of major significance to that number, but we do feel like out here in Broken Arrow we offer a great place to live and raise a family."
Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Norman have the largest populations in the state, followed by Broken Arrow.
The five fastest growing area cities and towns and their rate of change since the 2010 Census were: Fair Oaks, 1.9 percent; Tahlequah, 1.7 percent; and Coweta, Grand Lake and Wagoner, all at 1.4 percent.
Statewide, the fastest growing cities were Piedmont, 3.5 percent; Mustang, 3.5 percent; and Yukon, 3.4 percent.
Conversely, 161 Oklahoma cities and towns lost population since the 2010 Census.
Area cities that declined in population since the 2010 Census were: Okmulgee, from 12,321 to 12,283 in 2011; Henryetta, from 5,927 to 5,907 in 2011; and McAlester, from 18,383 to 18,306 in 2011.
The fastest shrinking town was the western Oklahoma town of Gage in Ellis County, which saw a 2.5 percent decline in population to 431 people.
Nationwide, New Orleans was the fastest growing large city. It grew 4.9 percent since the 2010 Census to 360,740 people.
Six Texas cities, led by Round Rock, were the next fastest growing cities in the United States.
The population in Round Rock increased 4.8 percent since the 2010 Census to 104,664 people.
New York had the largest numerical growth among U.S. cities.
The most populous city in the nation, it grew by 69,777 people and had a population of 8,244,910 on July 1, 2011.
Area cities' growth from April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2011
| City | July 1, 2011, pop | Change since 2010 Census | Rate of change |
|
Oklahoma City | 591,967 | 11,966 | 2.1 |
|
Tahlequah | 16,021 | 270 | 1.7 |
|
Coweta | 9,505 | 128 | 1.4 |
|
Wagoner | 8,436 | 113 | 1.4 |
|
Broken Arrow | 100,073 | 1,226 | 1.2 |
|
Bixby | 21,137 | 254 | 1.2 |
|
Collinsville | 5,672 | 66 | 1.2 |
|
Glenpool | 10,938 | 130 | 1.2 |
|
Jenks | 17,130 | 204 | 1.2 |
|
Owasso | 29,854 | 347 | 1.2 |
|
Sand Springs | 19,140 | 224 | 1.2 |
|
Sperry | 1,220 | 14 | 1.2 |
|
Tulsa | 396,466 | 4,565 | 1.2 |
|
Bartlesville | 36,099 | 349 | 1.0 |
|
Catoosa | 7,226 | 75 | 1.0 |
|
Claremore | 18,745 | 164 | 0.9 |
|
Nowata | 3,763 | 32 | 0.9 |
|
Verdigris | 4,030 | 37 | 0.9 |
|
Kellyville | 1,153 | 9 | 0.8 |
|
Kiefer | 1,700 | 13 | 0.8 |
|
Stillwater | 46,048 | 360 | 0.8 |
|
Bristow | 4,253 | 31 | 0.7 |
|
Mannford | 3,097 | 21 | 0.7 |
|
Sapulpa | 20,691 | 146 | 0.7 |
|
Eufaula | 2,828 | 15 | 0.5 |
|
Skiatook | 7,389 | 22 | 0.3 |
|
Miami | 13,577 | 7 | 0.1 |
|
Fort Gibson | 4,155 | 1 | 0.0 |
|
Muskogee | 39,231 | 8 | 0.0 |
|
Pawhuska | 3,577 | -4 | -0.1 |
|
Henryetta | 5,907 | -20 | -0.3 |
|
Okmulgee | 12,283 | -38 | -0.3 |
|
McAlester | 18,306 | -79 | -0.4 |
Cities with largest numeric increase from April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2011
|
City | 2011 population | Numeric increase |
|
Oklahoma City | 591,967 | 11,966 |
|
Tulsa | 396,466 | 4,565 |
|
Norman | 113,273 | 2,348 |
|
Edmond | 82,963 | 1,560 |
|
Lawton | 98,177 | 1,310 |
|
Moore | 56,315 | 1,234 |
|
Broken Arrow | 100,073 | 1,226 |
|
Midwest City | 55,427 | 1,056 |
|
Yukon | 23,491 | 782 |
|
Mustang | 18,002 | 607 |
|
El Reno | 17,268 | 519 |
|
Del City | 21,746 | 414 |
Curtis Killman 918-581-8471
curtis.killman@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Tulsa's population nearing 400,000
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