Which city in Texas not named Dallas/Houston/Austin/San Antonio/ El Paso do you think will become major? (Fort Worth: college, live)

[nategdh]

I always wondered which Texas city not named above will become major ( suburbs don't count). Texas as a whole is growing. I would say that Lubbock (235,000 city) Amarillo ( 185,000 city) Odessa- Midland ( Almost 270,000 combined) Tyler (150,000) Corpus Christi (350,000). I know it will be one of these but not having been to all of them to see what they have to offer I'm not sure which one will become "major" I personally say Lubbock stands out for its size, location, and Tech.

[LakeTravisAlum]

I'd say Corpus Christi would be the first. Midland has the skyline for it, but they just need the population! I would think Lubbock would need an Interstate running through it (I-27 doesn't count) to become a major city. We could also include Waco on this list. Lubbock and Waco will probably always be college towns.

[Texas Liberal]

I agree that Lubbock seems like a good candidate but it does have some weaknesses in this regard. The lack of a "real" interstate is a major handicap. If I-30 could be extended from DFW to Lubbock then it would be in a better position to become a major city.

Midland I think is the most likely. Yes, Midland and Odessa are smaller than Amarillo and Lubbock but they are growing fast, and according to the most recent population estimates from the census bureau have a combined population about the same size as Lubbock. Midland has the skyline of real city, a nice airport and is on a major Interstate highway.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Fort Worth.

[nategdh]

Having an interstate run through Lubbock would definitely help. I'm still surprised on how big it is by not having one. It would be nice to connect Amarillo to Abeline with it running through Lubbock. I agree Fort Worth is a "major" city but when people hear Dallas they already know Fort Worth is included in that metro. I noticed that people who live there don't like how Dallas gets all the publicity but I just think that it will never really change. I forgot about Waco lol

[gabetx]

Once I-69 has more sections of it completed it will boost the Corpus Christi economy big time. Plus you add to that the Outlet mall they are going to be building on SH44 and I-69, the Eagleford Shale oil boom, the possible Destination Bayfront, and the Schlitterbahn that is going to be constructed on the island it has all of the recipes to become a major city including having the 6th busiest port in the US. It just has everything going for it. It is already the 5th most visited city in Texas with 6,000,000 visitors a year.

Other than that my second guess would probably be either Waco or Killeen - Ft. Hood.

[lothartheterrible]

Waco

[hellpaso]

Actually, I think it will be the McAllen-Mission-Edinburg portion of the Rio Grande Valley. Census already shows the population at 750k+, and that's not including the expanded metro area which virtually doubles that number. Of course, most of the state (& US, for that matter),Don't even realize we exist!

[dallasboi]

Denton.....lol

[die Eichkatze]

Originally Posted by gabetx

Once I-69 has more sections of it completed it will boost the Corpus Christi economy big time. Plus you add to that the Outlet mall they are going to be building on SH44 and I-69, the Eagleford Shale oil boom, the possible Destination Bayfront, and the Schlitterbahn that is going to be constructed on the island it has all of the recipes to become a major city including having the 6th busiest port in the US. It just has everything going for it. It is already the 5th most visited city in Texas with 6,000,000 visitors a year.

Other than that my second guess would probably be either Waco or Killeen - Ft. Hood.

My thoughts exactly...even for the second guess!
I-69, plus Eagle Ford boom, plus panama canal expansion should make them prime for expansion....as long as their city/county leaders don't drop the ball as usual.

Waco-Temple-Killeen would follow next. Fort Hood, Baylor, multiple smaller higher education facilities, Scott & White medical, and multiple other medical centers. Close enough to see some benefits from both DFW and Austin along the very important NAFTA highway...I-35.

Midland/Odessa would be a good pick, but it is too heavy into the boom/bust oil cycle.


I don't get the Lubbock picks. I understand the whole Tech thing and they do have a great medical field, but what is keeping Tech grads there? Lubbock isn't a strategic transportation hub. What would be the draw for companies to relocate there? It is far from anything/anyone else....