[Johnhw2]

American City association did population projections for american cities by state. It has population projections from 2015 to 2020, to 2025, 2030 and 2040. The cities are ranked by % growth over what ever period you select. Some one in the Dalas or Texas forum is where I found it but cant find it now to provide the link.

However, OKC was number one in % growth over that 25 year period which is amazing considering it is the largest city in Ok already. Elk City was number 2, never been there but had a relative who lived there a year or so and liked it a lot. Third in rank was Durant which is roughly twice as large as Elk City,

The projections for at least Durant were really the county which is what is considered the micro metro area for these two cities. Durant, really Bryan County, was projected to grow from 46k or so to almost 60k. With Choctaw Casino currently spending half a billion to double capacity, I suspect Durant is on course to hit this projection unless something happens to knock off the casino business near the Texas border. But the Steel Micro Mill built there a couple of years ago is attracting pipe companies to the area, including a Spanish firm locating its N. America HQ and plant in Durant currently.


Im not moving to Durant but it sure makes visiting family there interesting to see all the changes going on in that once sleepy little Oklahoma town.

[StillwaterTownie]

It hard to understand why Elk City should be on the list since it's well out in the middle of nowhere and hasn't grown since 2010. All it seems to have going for it is ag, gas and oil, along with I-40. Those two industries haven't been doing very well. Durant being on the list is easier to understand.

Stillwater should be able to grow faster from currently having air passenger service to Dallas-Ft. Worth and possibly later on to Chicago.

[Johnhw2]

I agree with you on Elk City. My sister and her husband lived in Elk City for a year between being in Durant for 30 years. Some comments comparing the two cities from them are: 1} EC not a college town but over all education level of locals seemed higher, 2} EC has the highest per capita tax revenues in the state of Oklahoma, largely from Oil and Gas I suppose but this surprised me 3} nice active downtown, and 4} county owned hospital and very nice city parks, must be where their tax money is being spent.

They liked EC but Durant is home for them. THey leased their house in Durant which is 5 minutes from his work at the hospital and its on 3 acres, heavily treed and hilly on a small lake. They own a bunch of rent houses in Durant and have a good loyal client base including some future MD's doing their residency in Durant, they have a few new 2k sf homes that are a good for this type client and he has access to them via his work. I believe they have 4 or 5 residents at a time. Durant is getting new restaurants and improved shopping but Denison/Sherman is about 30 minutes away and North Dallas Metro are just over an hour from them. Two of their kids are living in NYC so access to DFW is a big plus

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

It hard to understand why Elk City should be on the list since it's well out in the middle of nowhere and hasn't grown since 2010. All it seems to have going for it is ag, gas and oil, along with I-40. Those two industries haven't been doing very well. Durant being on the list is easier to understand.

Stillwater should be able to grow faster from currently having air passenger service to Dallas-Ft. Worth and possibly later on to Chicago.

Elk City is struggling right now due to the shut down of the oilfield. It is probably the biggest boom and bust town of it's size in the entire state. Any long term population projections are pretty much going to be unreliable.

[The Anglosphere Miracle]

Tulsa is the best OK city

[Johnhw2]

Durant and Bryan County are the best Okie parts in DFW metro's orb. They are officially part of the combined SMSA of DFW, they only parts of oklahoma, to have the relationship witht DFW though so best be default ? maybe so?

[StillwaterTownie]

For now, the Top 10 fastest growing cities in Oklahoma are in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas to no surprise of my own. It's led off by Jenks, Piedmont, Owasso, Newcastle and Bixby. https://www.homesnacks.net/fastest-g...lahoma-127097/

[KayneMo]

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

For now, the Top 10 fastest growing cities in Oklahoma are in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas to no surprise of my own. It's led off by Jenks, Piedmont, Owasso, Newcastle and Bixby. https://www.homesnacks.net/fastest-g...lahoma-127097/

The graph leaves off Durant which would be #13 at 14.6% growth.

Here is a list I compiled of cities that grew over 10% using 2018 Census estimates compared to the 2010 Census:
1. Piedmont - 43.2%
2. Jenks - 38.0%
3. Newcastle - 33.8%
4. Bixby - 31.5%
5. Glenpool - 28.9%
6. Owasso - 27.0%
7. Mustang - 26.4%
8. Collinsville - 26.1%
9. Harrah - 25.9%
10. Tuttle - 22.4%
11. Yukon - 21.2%
12. El Reno - 16.3%
13. Blanchard - 15.2%
14. Durant - 14.6%
15. Edmond - 14.4%
16. Choctaw 13.3%
17. Moore - 12.7%
18. Guthrie - 12.2%
19. Oklahoma City - 11.9%
20. Norman - 11.3%
21. Weatherford - 11.0%
22. Broken Arrow - 10.4%
23. Stillwater - 10.3%

[Johnhw2]

Interesting list. The source I cited viewed metros rather than cuties so no surprise to see many okc metro and Tulsa metro cities on this list. Also interesting to see okc is on this list and Tulsa is not which explains why okc metro is number one and tulsa down that longer term list of metros. Elk City missing from this list aligns with Eddie Gs point about current oil down trend hurting there.

Overall some very strong growth around the state that many from afar may see is no growth.

[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by Johnhw2

American City association did population projections for american cities by state. It has population projections from 2015 to 2020, to 2025, 2030 and 2040. The cities are ranked by % growth over what ever period you select. Some one in the Dalas or Texas forum is where I found it but cant find it now to provide the link.

However, OKC was number one in % growth over that 25 year period which is amazing considering it is the largest city in Ok already. Elk City was number 2, never been there but had a relative who lived there a year or so and liked it a lot. Third in rank was Durant which is roughly twice as large as Elk City,

The projections for at least Durant were really the county which is what is considered the micro metro area for these two cities. Durant, really Bryan County, was projected to grow from 46k or so to almost 60k. With Choctaw Casino currently spending half a billion to double capacity, I suspect Durant is on course to hit this projection unless something happens to knock off the casino business near the Texas border. But the Steel Micro Mill built there a couple of years ago is attracting pipe companies to the area, including a Spanish firm locating its N. America HQ and plant in Durant currently.


Im not moving to Durant but it sure makes visiting family there interesting to see all the changes going on in that once sleepy little Oklahoma town.

I lived in OKC for a while and operated my trucking business out of there. IIRC we used to make trips to a fantastic CATFISH Diner in Durant. I can;t remember its name but I can still taste how great it was in my mind.