Economics
Two Texas Oil Towns Among Metros With Fastest Population Growth
Employees at an oil rig in Midland, Texas.
Photographer: Callaghan O'Hare/Bloomberg
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Two Texas economies are reaping the benefits from the oil boom in the Permian Basin with people “voting with their feet.”
Texas oil centers Midland and Odessa were among the fastest growing U.S. metros in 2018, according to newly released Census data for the 12-month period ending July 1, 2018. Both cities benefited from more people moving in than out. Midland had the highest growth of all U.S. metros, in relative terms, with a population gain of 4.3 percent. Odessa took the fifth spot with a 3.2 percent population increase.