Texas Towns Lead Nation In Labor Force Growth

Three Texas cities had the fastest-growing labor force in the nation from 2000 to 2005, according to a new book released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Of cities with populations of 25,000 or more, Frisco had 73.5 percent labor force growth, followed by Cedar Park (66 percent) and McKinney (52.5 percent). These were followed by Carmel, Ind. (49.9 percent); and Dania Beach, Fla. (45 percent).

These and other details about counties, cities and other areas can be found in the U.S. Census Bureau’s County and City Data Book: 2007.

Cities with populations of 25,000 or more with the lowest rates of unemployment in 2005 were Draper, Utah (1.5 percent); Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. (1.7 percent); Manhattan Beach, Calif. (1.8 percent); Aliso Viejo, Calif. (1.9 percent); and San Ramon, Calif. (1.9 percent).

Compiled since the 1940s, the County and City Data Book incorporates demographic and economic information about the United States from Census Bureau surveys, as well as information from other government and private organizations. The data cover topics such as population, housing, vital statistics, health care, social programs, education, labor force, wholesale and retail trade, and weather.

Geographic areas covered in the County and City Data Book include states, counties, cities with populations of 25,000 or more, and places with 100,000 or more residents.

Other highlights:

* In 2005, New York County, N.Y., led all U.S. counties in personal income per capita at $93,377. During the same period, St. Bernard Parish, La., had the lowest per capita personal income at $5,148 (Table B-9).
* In 2005, there were 91,394 commercial banks and savings institutions in the United States, or 3.1 per 10,000 residents (Table B-11).
* In 2005, farm earnings in the U.S. amounted to $51 billion. The top farm-earning counties were all in California: Monterey, Kern, Tulare, Fresno and Ventura (Table B-14).
* For cities with populations of 25,000 or more, Redmond, Wash., was the rainiest at 82.86 inches on average annually. Calexico, Calif., and El Centro, Calif., both had the distinction of having the lowest annual precipitation at 2.96 inches.
* The warmest average temperature in January was in Honolulu, which averages 73 degrees. The coldest average January temperature was in Fairbanks, Alaska, at 9.7 degrees below zero. New York, Los Angeles and Chicago averaged 32.1 degrees, 58.3 degrees and 25.3 degrees, respectively, in January.
* Between 2000 and 2005, Maricopa County, Ariz., added the most housing units, with an increase of 231,074, but Flagler County, Fla., led all U.S. counties in growth rate with a 60.8 percent increase (Table B-7)
* In 2000, Alcona County, Mich., had the greatest proportion of housing units that were owner-occupied at 89.9 percent, while Bronx County, N.Y., had the lowest such proportion at 19.6 percent (Table B-7).