Big-City Booms Now Look Like Blips

USA TODAY reports that 36 of the USA's 251 current largest cities lost population in the 1990's, and 68 have declined this decade. Among them are Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia. Scores of other cities, including Phoenix, are still growing but at slower rates. The report shows that Phoenix's population grew 7.3% from 2000 to 2004. Many of the cities losing population are older, Midwest and east coast cities where the cost of living has gotten too high. Many are fleeing the high costs to areas with more affordable housing and better climate, like Phoenix. The article states that cities that are continuing to grow, like Phoenix, Houston, Charlotte and Fort Worth, are attracting large numbers of immigrants because of relatively low housing costs and diversified economies. More...