Dallas County’s Population Rebound
Dallas County is regaining some of the population it lost during the pandemic. When the COVID-19 lockdown began, urban dwellers across the country sought refuge in sparsely populated cities and suburbs, especially those that could work remotely.
Dallas County’s population dropped by about 25,000 in 2021, as surrounding suburban counties posted some of the largest population growth in the country. But some of those former Dallasites and new residents are growing the county’s population once again.
Dallas County has regained nearly 13,000 residents, the fastest rate of growth the county has seen since 2017, according to a new Census Bureau report.
Migration Patterns Approaching Pre-Pandemic Levels
“County growth and migration patterns approached pre-pandemic levels this year, Census official Christine Hartley said in a statement. Some urban counties, such as Dallas and San Francisco, saw inward migration between 2021 and 2022 at a slower rate than the previous year.
Population Statistics
Dallas County’s population has rebounded to more than 2.6 million, the eighth-most largest in the country. Harris County last year ranked third behind only Los Angeles and Cook County, Ill., both of which posted the largest single-year declines.
The Census Bureau reports that 60% of the country’s counties experienced net inward immigration last year. Collin ranked second nationally with 29,696 new inhabitants who settled in the area. Texas had six of the 10 fastest-growing counties in the country in 2022.
The seven-county Dallas-Fort Worth area grew by 145,633 residents during the year ending July 2022. The population of those counties totaled nearly 7.4 million. In percentage terms, the largest growth in the country was in Kaufman (8.9%) and Rockwall (5.7%) counties.
Factors Contributing to Population Growth
As more businesses bring back their employees to their offices, the population of workers and residents in downtown Dallas has grown. The construction of thousands of new rental homes has also contributed to the increase in urban residents.
“We see this momentum in downtown, where the population has been growing steadily over the past 25 years from just a few hundred people to over 14,500 today,” said Jennifer Scripps, CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc. Growth is expected to continue, which is why millions of dollars are being invested in commercial-to-residential conversions and new multi-family projects throughout downtown.
The concentration of unique attractions—art, parks, restaurants, shops, and museums—in the urban core is a key advantage over suburban communities, which are quieter.
Conclusion
With businesses bringing their employees back to their offices and the construction of new homes, Dallas County’s population is rebounding after a decline during the pandemic. The unique offerings in the urban center are an advantage in attracting residents to the area.
