MAPA Population Forecast Shows Continued Growth in the Metro

[BRoss]

http://mapacog.org/calendar/news/metro- ... ed-growth/

New MAPA population forecasts show if the population grows annually at just 1% the five-county metropolitan area (Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Washington, Pottawattamie and Mills Counties) will be more than one million people at 1,197,555 by 2050. If it grows annually at 1.5% it will approach 1.5 million and if it grows at 2% annually, it’ll be a whopping 1,766,611.

Data from the past nine years back up those trends. 2010 census data shows the eight-county (Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Washington, Saunders, Pottawattamie, Mills and Harrison counties) metro area’s population was 865,350. But in just five years, from 2010 to 2015, the population grew by more than 5% to 914,305. It gets even larger when you add in Dodge County. The CSA (Combined Statistical Area) was 902,041 in 2010 and grew to 950,810 in 2015.

[nativeomahan]

And my friends and I generally age by one year each year. A city that isn’t growing by one percent or more annually is shrinking, relative to the nation as a whole.

[buildomaha]

Omaha really does need to figure out how to attract some people. We need to step up the population growth. I have a weird feeling that Omaha is about to take off (relative to our past slow growth).

[RockHarbor]

Omaha really does need to figure out how to attract some people. We need to step up the population growth. I have a weird feeling that Omaha is about to take off (relative to our past slow growth).

I agree that Omaha needs to work on that even more, mainly because I notice nearby Des Moines is growing at twice the rate of the Omaha metro. Des Moines is competitive, and so should Omaha fully be. If it were up to me, I wouldn't just stand back and let Des Moines "take the ball." If they "want the ball", they can come and get it -- and they should work very hard to get their hands on it, imo. They're very competitive, and Omaha should be equally competitive, too -- like two teams playing at the Superbowl. (I realize both cities probably attract around the same number of new people per year, yet Omaha's percentage simply can look lower simply because it is a larger metro.) Anyways, good for Des Moines, but I want Omaha to have that same 13% percentage growth rate I see for Des Moines.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Omaha really does need to figure out how to attract some people. We need to step up the population growth. I have a weird feeling that Omaha is about to take off (relative to our past slow growth).

I agree that Omaha needs to work on that even more, mainly because I notice nearby Des Moines is growing at twice the rate of the Omaha metro. Des Moines is competitive, and so should Omaha fully be.

This is not accurate. According to the US Census, through the latest 2017 estimate, the Omaha CSA has grown at a very respectable 7.54%. Des Moines has grown at 11.70%. It’s better, but not close to twice the rate. And Omaha is VERY competitive. Let’s not get that twisted. Omaha is developing quite the Silicon Prairie and attracting new data centers and tech companies. Omaha is among the top metros in attracting young people for jobs.. Yes, Omaha is the larger metro, so the actual growth numbers pretty much even out compared to Des Moines..So good for both cities..

But Omaha is doing just fine in the growth department..and is poised to grow even faster the rest of this decade and beyond...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[RockHarbor]

I'm going by this chart: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of ... ical_areas It says 13.39% for Des Moines, verses Omaha's 7.85% (I think it was). That's almost twice as fast (per capita). Even Lincoln's growth rate has always been a little better than Omaha's (per capita). Because Omaha is the biggest metro of those three, by hundreds of thousands of people, its harder for Omaha to get the highest percentage -- of course. I know Omaha is very competitive and the "Silicon Prairie (that term was around when I was very young). Im very proud of Omaha -- and Des Moines. Omaha is my hometown, though, so I just want to see "Omaha, NE-IA 13.40%" (at least, if not more) on that Wikipedia chart. That's all...

[Omaha Cowboy]

The chart you might want to refer to is this one-

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combine ... tical_area

It’s an even better measuring stick for growth and the chart I always refer to..

In any case-

If you look that these charts, Omaha’s growth is outpacing peer cities like Grand Rapids, Tulsa, Albuquerque, Tuscon, Knoxville, El Paso, Albany/Rochester/Buffalo, NY..and even the ever popular Madison, WI..

I believe with the influx of new business moving into the metro the next 3-5 years, we’ll see Omaha’s already robust growth rate, become even more pronounced..

In the end, Omaha growth rate at present, is doing quite well.and it’s going to get even better imo...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[RockHarbor]

Thanks for that chart.... Ill use that one now. You sure set me straight. It doesnt surprise me that Omaha beats all those peer cities in growth, as Omaha seems to have more "umph" to it than those other cities -- like a stronger, confident identity, or something, thus a more attractive, alluring metro, like Denver is, ect. Im wondering if Omaha has even more of that "umph" aspect now, more than ever before? When I was growing up, Omaha had this confidence in a way, but it maybe feels stronger now. I have ideas why that is... (This "umph" to Omaha is why I dont like the twin towers shrouded. Maybe its all my imagination, but twin, mirror-image towers, pushing & opening & unfolding boldly outward w/ inward diagonal angles, make a sort of special "power statement" to me, one that kinda says "This exact geographical place is special, this city is something to take notice of." Or: "This city thinks of itself worthy & important enough to pull-off this brazen, aggressive, energetic, go-getter architectural statement. Take notice of this up-and-coming town." It's a feeling kind of like Minneapolis's AT& T building, or Dallas' Fountain Place puts out -- in a way. They ushered in the prosperous 1980's decade with a new exciting look for Omaha. It's kinda like the power statement of two stone lions on each side of a main entrance, or maybe like the tunnel-focused statement of a mirror, table, and striking vase & flowers at the end of a long hallway. Twin tower designs you have to be careful with -- but Omaha's statement worked perfectly. Watch, we'll lose that statement, and then Des Moines, or one of those peer cities, will build twin towers. I would be just angered...) Anyways, Omaha has always been a growing town.

[buildomaha]

Thanks for that chart.... Ill use that one now. You sure set me straight. It doesnt surprise me that Omaha beats all those peer cities in growth, as Omaha seems to have more "umph" to it than those other cities -- like a stronger, confident identity, or something, thus a more attractive, alluring metro, like Denver is, ect. Im wondering if Omaha has even more of that "umph" aspect now, more than ever before? When I was growing up, Omaha had this confidence in a way, but it maybe feels stronger now. I have ideas why that is... (This "umph" to Omaha is why I dont like the twin towers shrouded. Twin, mirror-image towers make a sort of special "power statement" to me, one that kinda says "This exact geographical place is special, this city is something to take notice of." It's kinda like a power statement of two stone lions on each side of a main entrance, or maybe like the tunnel-focused statement of a mirror, table, and striking vase & flowers at the end of a long hallway. Watch, we'll lose that statement, and then Des Moines, or one of those peer cities, will build twin towers. I would be just angered...) Anyways, Omaha has always been a growing town.

I agree. I think Omaha definitely has an identity. It’s citizens are proud yes, but people generally have a good idea of their opinion on Omaha. It also helps that Omaha is in a state that represents the opposite of of vibrant thriving city. Meaning Omaha kind of created its own identity in order to separate itself. Many people from Omaha (including me) identify themselves as from Omaha. Just Omaha, not Nebraska. Husker football is the only connection to the rest of the state

[RockHarbor]

Thanks for that chart.... Ill use that one now. You sure set me straight. It doesnt surprise me that Omaha beats all those peer cities in growth, as Omaha seems to have more "umph" to it than those other cities -- like a stronger, confident identity, or something, thus a more attractive, alluring metro, like Denver is, ect. Im wondering if Omaha has even more of that "umph" aspect now, more than ever before? When I was growing up, Omaha had this confidence in a way, but it maybe feels stronger now. I have ideas why that is... (This "umph" to Omaha is why I dont like the twin towers shrouded. Twin, mirror-image towers make a sort of special "power statement" to me, one that kinda says "This exact geographical place is special, this city is something to take notice of." It's kinda like a power statement of two stone lions on each side of a main entrance, or maybe like the tunnel-focused statement of a mirror, table, and striking vase & flowers at the end of a long hallway. Watch, we'll lose that statement, and then Des Moines, or one of those peer cities, will build twin towers. I would be just angered...) Anyways, Omaha has always been a growing town.

I agree. I think Omaha definitely has an identity. It’s citizens are proud yes, but people generally have a good idea of their opinion on Omaha. It also helps that Omaha is in a state that represents the opposite of of vibrant thriving city. Meaning Omaha kind of created its own identity in order to separate itself. Many people from Omaha (including me) identify themselves as from Omaha. Just Omaha, not Nebraska. Husker football is the only connection to the rest of the state

I hear what you mean. When I was a kid, I was always proud to be an "Omaha kid" when I would be involved in an activity that involved groups of kids from all over Nebraska. Some of the kids from small town NE would be like: "What's it like living in Omaha?!?" They thought it was such a "big bad city" or something. (If you add up the "boosters" to Omaha's identity & confidence, the number is greater than it was 20-30 years ago. So, Omaha does have strong identity; we dont have "off thinking" here.)

Omaha is fully "Nebraska" of course, but I've lived in Lincoln, and that feels more like the truest "Heartbeat of Nebraska" to me -- which is rightfully should be. It's more centralized, it has big & energetic UNL and is home to the Cornhuskers, and it has the Capitol Building. I feel like I understand my home state a little better & richer from living in Lincoln. However, I'm a native Omahan, and although Lincoln is delightful in its own way, Omaha is more "me" and is my hometown. I kinda like how Omaha's downtown "face" faces Iowa, almost like it is a "welcome checkpoint" to pass through, welcoming people to Nebraska through "gates" on westbound I-80, entering through at the lowest elevations Nebraska has, the state slowly sloping upward from there, all the way out to Colorado.

The "umph" Omaha has: The best way I can describe it is kinda like this... If New York City was going to pass a football all the way across the country to Los Angeles, all nationwide cities being "team players", I feel like Omaha would be a key city (out of the peer cities mentioned) that the ball is thrown to, to then pass it onto Denver -- or something. It feels like an ample, able, aggressive, energetic, key player to include "in the game" -- or something. That's not putting down any other medium-size Midwest cities on that peer list, as if they are lacking something -- truly, they each all have their own special qualities. But, Omaha has that quality most to me (out of those cities). It just does...

[daveoma]

I'm going by this chart: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of ... ical_areas It says 13.39% for Des Moines, verses Omaha's 7.85% (I think it was). That's almost twice as fast (per capita). Even Lincoln's growth rate has always been a little better than Omaha's (per capita). Because Omaha is the biggest metro of those three, by hundreds of thousands of people, its harder for Omaha to get the highest percentage -- of course. I know Omaha is very competitive and the "Silicon Prairie (that term was around when I was very young). Im very proud of Omaha -- and Des Moines. Omaha is my hometown, though, so I just want to see "Omaha, NE-IA 13.40%" (at least, if not more) on that Wikipedia chart. That's all...

This list is technically accurate in terms of the population based on the 2017 estimates for Omaha. I just updated the county pages in wikipedia and the metropolitan area pages with the updates census estimates.

I think that the office space filling up in downtown Omaha is a very good sign of economic vitality. I'd also love to see unemployment broken down by city districts or by ethnicity/race. If African American unemployment is appreciably lower, then that would be a very good indicator of the city's economic health. I suspect that the 2018 estimates will shower faster growth compared to those from 2017.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I'm going by this chart: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of ... ical_areas It says 13.39% for Des Moines, verses Omaha's 7.85% (I think it was). That's almost twice as fast (per capita). Even Lincoln's growth rate has always been a little better than Omaha's (per capita). Because Omaha is the biggest metro of those three, by hundreds of thousands of people, its harder for Omaha to get the highest percentage -- of course. I know Omaha is very competitive and the "Silicon Prairie (that term was around when I was very young). Im very proud of Omaha -- and Des Moines. Omaha is my hometown, though, so I just want to see "Omaha, NE-IA 13.40%" (at least, if not more) on that Wikipedia chart. That's all...

This list is technically accurate in terms of the population based on the 2017 estimates for Omaha. I just updated the county pages in wikipedia and the metropolitan area pages with the updates census estimates.

I think that the office space filling up in downtown Omaha is a very good sign of economic vitality. I'd also love to see unemployment broken down by city districts or by ethnicity/race. If African American unemployment is appreciably lower, then that would be a very good indicator of the city's economic health. I suspect that the 2018 estimates will shower faster growth compared to those from 2017.

The link is accurate for the 2017 MSA estimates. The list most have moved on to..to gauge rate of growth, economic vitality etc, is the link I provided for the 2017 US Census CSA estimates..

In any case, I agree. I believe the 2018 CSA and MSA estimates will show a higher growth % for Omaha.. We’ll find out soon as those estimates will be coming in less than a month now..

I’ll be starting my traditional annual thread for it very soon ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[daveoma]

I'm going by this chart: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of ... ical_areas It says 13.39% for Des Moines, verses Omaha's 7.85% (I think it was). That's almost twice as fast (per capita). Even Lincoln's growth rate has always been a little better than Omaha's (per capita). Because Omaha is the biggest metro of those three, by hundreds of thousands of people, its harder for Omaha to get the highest percentage -- of course. I know Omaha is very competitive and the "Silicon Prairie (that term was around when I was very young). Im very proud of Omaha -- and Des Moines. Omaha is my hometown, though, so I just want to see "Omaha, NE-IA 13.40%" (at least, if not more) on that Wikipedia chart. That's all...

This list is technically accurate in terms of the population based on the 2017 estimates for Omaha. I just updated the county pages in wikipedia and the metropolitan area pages with the updates census estimates.

I think that the office space filling up in downtown Omaha is a very good sign of economic vitality. I'd also love to see unemployment broken down by city districts or by ethnicity/race. If African American unemployment is appreciably lower, then that would be a very good indicator of the city's economic health. I suspect that the 2018 estimates will shower faster growth compared to those from 2017.

The link is accurate for the 2017 MSA estimates. The list most have moved on to..to gauge rate of growth, economic vitality etc, is the link I provided for the 2017 US Census CSA estimates..

In any case, I agree. I believe the 2018 CSA and MSA estimates will show a higher growth % for Omaha.. We’ll find out soon as those estimates will be coming in less than a month now..

I’ll be starting my traditional annual thread for it very soon ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Yeah I think there's a lot of economic activity happening in Omaha right now and I suspect that'll drive migration from rural areas. Let's keep our fingers crossed that UPRR stays in Omaha. I heard a rumor that they're seriously considering moving to Dallas. Can somebody put that into the rumors section?

[Omaha Cowboy]

Let's keep our fingers crossed that UPRR stays in Omaha. I heard a rumor that they're seriously considering moving to Dallas. Can somebody put that into the rumors section?

Ask and you shall receive-

http://www.eomahaforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=19683

Ciao..LiO...Peace