The fastest-growing large U.S. city over the past year is...

[KamaAina]

...not whichever Sunbelt business capital or exurb you're probably thinking of.







Yeah you rite! New Orleans tops the charts for the first time in about 160 years -- though, obviously, with an * big enough for Barry Bonds and the Patriots...

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html

New Orleans, hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was the fastest-growing large city in the nation between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007....

U.S. Census Bureau estimates released today show New Orleans' population rose by 13.8 percent to 239,124 during the one-year period, to lead all cities with populations of 100,000 or more in rate of increase.

Notes: a) the 239,124 figure is a crock; the generally accepted figure in the region is at or just below 300,000. b) Baton Rouge, 75 miles up I-10, turned out to be among the biggest losers; clearly, many New Orleanians ended up there temporarily and are now returning home.

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[ColbertWatcher]

2. Someone's moving back, but are they the people who were displaced by Katrina? n/t

[KamaAina]

3. Well, some are, some aren't

according to reports, quite a number of recent college grads view the rebuilding city as a land of opportunity. Ah, to be 25 again... more at:

http://www.nolayurp.com

But then, the same Census Bureau report showed nearby Baton Rouge with the second-largest drop in population -- behind only Columbus, Ga., which saw thousands of its residents deployed from Fort Stewart to Eye-rack.

Columbus, Ga., had the largest percentage decrease from 2006 to 2007. Its population decline is attributable to a decline in the population living in military barracks. Columbus was followed by Baton Rouge, La.; Hollywood, Fla.; Jackson, Miss.; and Coral Springs, Fla.

Starting in that fateful fall of 2005, thousands of people actually commuted from Baton Rouge to NOLA, either for work or to rebuild their homes during weekends. The state, which is not known for providing much in the way of amenities such as public transportation, even set up a commuter bus service between the two.

http://www.laswift.com

In the absence of some unexplained sudden decline in the Baton Rouge economy, the steep decline for Baton Rouge, coupled with the healthy gain for NOLA, indicates that there has been considerable movement back down I-10.

Plus, these numbers are for the city itself, much harder hit than most surrounding parishes. Many people returning from out of state have settled nearby, but not in the city, particularly in neighboring Jefferson Parish. No numbners for J.P. were provided in the press release.