Austin-Round Rock metro area was the second fastest growing in the country from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008. And it posted the largest rate of growth for the nearly 10-year period.
McAllen-Edinburg was not far behind, mainly due to an influx of immigrants from south of the border.
Only two Texas metro areas posted losses from 2000 to 2008: Wichita Falls and Beaumont-Port Arthur.
The Temple metro area includes Killeen and Fort Hood, giving it a 2008 population of almost 379,000.
The Census Bureau reported that as of July 1, 2008, the nation’s 363 metro areas contained 254.2 million people, or about 84 percent of the population. Of these areas, 313 gained in population year over year and 50 lost population.
