Demographia

Top 50 US
Metropolitan Areas in 1996:
Population from 1950

Where metropolitan areas were consolidated between 1950 and 1996, the 1950 population represents the combined populations of the metropolitan areas as consolidated.

CONTENTS
Alphabetical Listing
Ranked by 1996 Population
Ranked by 1950 Population
Ranked by Population Change from 1950


50 Largest US Metropolitan Areas in 1996: Population Change from 1950
Alphabetical Listing

Metropolitan Area 1950 1990 Change from 1950 1996 Change from 1950
Atlanta, GA MSA 726,789 2,959,500 307.2% 3,541,230 387.2%
Austin-San Marcos, TX MSA 160,980 846,227 425.7% 1,041,330 546.9%
Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, MA-NH-ME-CT CMSA 3,456,063 5,455,403 57.9% 5,563,475 61.0%
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA 1,089,230 1,189,340 9.2% 1,175,240 7.9%
Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC MSA 197,052 1,162,140 489.8% 1,321,068 570.4%
Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI CMSA 6,869,699 8,239,820 19.9% 8,599,774 25.2%
Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN CMSA 1,051,605 1,817,569 72.8% 1,920,931 82.7%
Cleveland-Akron, OH CMSA 1,465,511 2,859,644 95.1% 2,913,430 98.8%
Columbus, OH MSA 503,410 1,345,450 167.3% 1,447,646 187.6%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CMSA 1,136,144 4,037,282 255.3% 4,574,561 302.6%
Dayton-Springfield, OH MSA 630,303 951,270 50.9% 950,661 50.8%
Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO CMSA 612,128 1,980,140 223.5% 2,277,401 272.0%
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI CMSA 3,421,766 5,187,171 51.6% 5,284,171 54.4%
Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI MSA 409,837 937,891 128.8% 1,015,099 147.7%
Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC MSA 337,192 1,050,304 211.5% 1,141,238 238.5%
Hartford, CT MSA 406,534 1,157,585 184.7% 1,144,574 181.5%
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX CMSA 919,767 3,731,029 305.6% 4,253,428 362.4%
Indianapolis, IN MSA 551,777 1,380,491 150.2% 1,492,297 170.5%
Jacksonville, FL MSA 304,029 906,727 198.2% 1,008,633 231.8%
Kansas City, MO-KS MSA 814,357 1,582,874 94.4% 1,690,343 107.6%
Las Vegas, NV-AZ MSA 48,289 852,646 1665.7% 1,201,073 2387.3%
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA CMSA 4,819,599 14,531,529 201.5% 15,495,155 221.5%
Louisville, KY-IN MSA 576,900 949,012 64.5% 991,765 71.9%
Memphis, TN-AR-MS MSA 482,393 1,007,306 108.8% 1,078,151 123.5%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL CMSA 579,017 3,192,725 451.4% 3,514,403 507.0%
Milwaukee-Racine, WI CMSA 1,066,533 1,607,183 50.7% 1,642,658 54.0%
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI MSA 1,151,053 2,538,776 120.6% 2,765,116 140.2%
Nashville, TN MSA 321,758 985,026 206.1% 1,117,178 247.2%
New Orleans, LA MSA 685,405 1,285,262 87.5% 1,312,890 91.5%
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA CMSA 14,018,852 19,549,649 39.5% 19,938,492 42.2%
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC MSA 601,177 1,444,710 140.3% 1,540,252 156.2%
Oklahoma City, OK MSA 392,439 958,839 144.3% 1,026,657 161.6%
Orlando, FL MSA 141,833 1,224,844 763.6% 1,417,291 899.3%
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA 4,071,814 5,893,019 44.7% 5,973,463 46.7%
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ MSA 331,770 2,238,498 574.7% 2,746,703 727.9%
Pittsburgh, PA MSA 2,213,236 2,394,811 8.2% 2,379,411 7.5%
Portland-Salem, OR-WA CMSA 704,829 1,793,476 154.5% 2,078,357 194.9%
Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA MSA 897,500 1,134,350 26.4% 1,124,044 25.2%
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA 238,089 858,485 260.6% 1,025,253 330.6%
Rochester, NY MSA 487,632 1,062,470 117.9% 1,088,037 123.1%
Sacramento-Yolo, CA CMSA 277,140 1,481,220 434.5% 1,632,133 488.9%
Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT MSA 358,214 1,072,227 199.3% 1,217,842 240.0%
San Antonio, TX MSA 500,460 1,324,749 164.7% 1,490,111 197.7%
San Diego, CA MSA 556,808 2,498,016 348.6% 2,655,463 376.9%
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA CMSA 2,531,314 6,249,881 146.9% 6,605,428 160.9%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA CMSA 1,120,448 2,970,300 165.1% 3,320,829 196.4%
St. Louis, MO-IL MSA 1,719,288 2,492,348 45.0% 2,548,238 48.2%
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA 409,143 2,067,959 405.4% 2,199,231 437.5%
Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV CMSA 2,869,488 6,726,395 134.4% 7,164,519 149.7%
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL MSA 114,688 863,503 652.9% 992,840 765.7%
Total 69,353,232 142,029,061 104.8% 151,641,510 118.7%
Calculated from US Census Burea data

50 Largest US Metropolitan Areas in 1996: Population Change from 1950
By 1997 Population

Rank
Metropolitan Area 1950 1990 Change from 1950 1996 Change from 1950
1 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA CMSA 14,018,852 19,549,649 39.5% 19,938,492 42.2%
2 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA CMSA 4,819,599 14,531,529 201.5% 15,495,155 221.5%
3 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI CMSA 6,869,699 8,239,820 19.9% 8,599,774 25.2%
4 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV CMSA 2,869,488 6,726,395 134.4% 7,164,519 149.7%
5 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA CMSA 2,531,314 6,249,881 146.9% 6,605,428 160.9%
6 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA 4,071,814 5,893,019 44.7% 5,973,463 46.7%
7 Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, MA-NH-ME-CT CMSA 3,456,063 5,455,403 57.9% 5,563,475 61.0%
8 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI CMSA 3,421,766 5,187,171 51.6% 5,284,171 54.4%
9 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CMSA 1,136,144 4,037,282 255.3% 4,574,561 302.6%
10 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX CMSA 919,767 3,731,029 305.6% 4,253,428 362.4%
11 Atlanta, GA MSA 726,789 2,959,500 307.2% 3,541,230 387.2%
12 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL CMSA 579,017 3,192,725 451.4% 3,514,403 507.0%
13 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA CMSA 1,120,448 2,970,300 165.1% 3,320,829 196.4%
14 Cleveland-Akron, OH CMSA 1,465,511 2,859,644 95.1% 2,913,430 98.8%
15 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI MSA 1,151,053 2,538,776 120.6% 2,765,116 140.2%
16 Phoenix-Mesa, AZ MSA 331,770 2,238,498 574.7% 2,746,703 727.9%
17 San Diego, CA MSA 556,808 2,498,016 348.6% 2,655,463 376.9%
18 St. Louis, MO-IL MSA 1,719,288 2,492,348 45.0% 2,548,238 48.2%
19 Pittsburgh, PA MSA 2,213,236 2,394,811 8.2% 2,379,411 7.5%
20 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO CMSA 612,128 1,980,140 223.5% 2,277,401 272.0%
21 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA 409,143 2,067,959 405.4% 2,199,231 437.5%
22 Portland-Salem, OR-WA CMSA 704,829 1,793,476 154.5% 2,078,357 194.9%
23 Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN CMSA 1,051,605 1,817,569 72.8% 1,920,931 82.7%
24 Kansas City, MO-KS MSA 814,357 1,582,874 94.4% 1,690,343 107.6%
25 Milwaukee-Racine, WI CMSA 1,066,533 1,607,183 50.7% 1,642,658 54.0%
26 Sacramento-Yolo, CA CMSA 277,140 1,481,220 434.5% 1,632,133 488.9%
27 Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC MSA 601,177 1,444,710 140.3% 1,540,252 156.2%
28 Indianapolis, IN MSA 551,777 1,380,491 150.2% 1,492,297 170.5%
29 San Antonio, TX MSA 500,460 1,324,749 164.7% 1,490,111 197.7%
30 Columbus, OH MSA 503,410 1,345,450 167.3% 1,447,646 187.6%
31 Orlando, FL MSA 141,833 1,224,844 763.6% 1,417,291 899.3%
32 Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC MSA 197,052 1,162,140 489.8% 1,321,068 570.4%
33 New Orleans, LA MSA 685,405 1,285,262 87.5% 1,312,890 91.5%
34 Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT MSA 358,214 1,072,227 199.3% 1,217,842 240.0%
35 Las Vegas, NV-AZ MSA 48,289 852,646 1665.7% 1,201,073 2387.3%
36 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA 1,089,230 1,189,340 9.2% 1,175,240 7.9%
37 Hartford, CT MSA 406,534 1,157,585 184.7% 1,144,574 181.5%
38 Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC MSA 337,192 1,050,304 211.5% 1,141,238 238.5%
39 Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA MSA 897,500 1,134,350 26.4% 1,124,044 25.2%
40 Nashville, TN MSA 321,758 985,026 206.1% 1,117,178 247.2%
41 Rochester, NY MSA 487,632 1,062,470 117.9% 1,088,037 123.1%
42 Memphis, TN-AR-MS MSA 482,393 1,007,306 108.8% 1,078,151 123.5%
43 Austin-San Marcos, TX MSA 160,980 846,227 425.7% 1,041,330 546.9%
44 Oklahoma City, OK MSA 392,439 958,839 144.3% 1,026,657 161.6%
45 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA 238,089 858,485 260.6% 1,025,253 330.6%
46 Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI MSA 409,837 937,891 128.8% 1,015,099 147.7%
47 Jacksonville, FL MSA 304,029 906,727 198.2% 1,008,633 231.8%
48 West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL MSA 114,688 863,503 652.9% 992,840 765.7%
49 Louisville, KY-IN MSA 576,900 949,012 64.5% 991,765 71.9%
50 Dayton-Springfield, OH MSA 630,303 951,270 50.9% 950,661 50.8%


50 Largest US Metropolitan Areas in 1996: Population Change from 1950
By 1950 Population

Rank
Metropolitan Area 1950 1990 Change from 1950 1996 Change from 1950
1 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA CMSA 14,018,852 19,549,649 39.5% 19,938,492 42.2%
2 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI CMSA 6,869,699 8,239,820 19.9% 8,599,774 25.2%
3 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA CMSA 4,819,599 14,531,529 201.5% 15,495,155 221.5%
4 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA 4,071,814 5,893,019 44.7% 5,973,463 46.7%
5 Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, MA-NH-ME-CT CMSA 3,456,063 5,455,403 57.9% 5,563,475 61.0%
6 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI CMSA 3,421,766 5,187,171 51.6% 5,284,171 54.4%
7 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV CMSA 2,869,488 6,726,395 134.4% 7,164,519 149.7%
8 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA CMSA 2,531,314 6,249,881 146.9% 6,605,428 160.9%
9 Pittsburgh, PA MSA 2,213,236 2,394,811 8.2% 2,379,411 7.5%
10 St. Louis, MO-IL MSA 1,719,288 2,492,348 45.0% 2,548,238 48.2%
11 Cleveland-Akron, OH CMSA 1,465,511 2,859,644 95.1% 2,913,430 98.8%
12 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI MSA 1,151,053 2,538,776 120.6% 2,765,116 140.2%
13 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CMSA 1,136,144 4,037,282 255.3% 4,574,561 302.6%
14 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA CMSA 1,120,448 2,970,300 165.1% 3,320,829 196.4%
15 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA 1,089,230 1,189,340 9.2% 1,175,240 7.9%
16 Milwaukee-Racine, WI CMSA 1,066,533 1,607,183 50.7% 1,642,658 54.0%
17 Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN CMSA 1,051,605 1,817,569 72.8% 1,920,931 82.7%
18 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX CMSA 919,767 3,731,029 305.6% 4,253,428 362.4%
19 Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA MSA 897,500 1,134,350 26.4% 1,124,044 25.2%
20 Kansas City, MO-KS MSA 814,357 1,582,874 94.4% 1,690,343 107.6%
21 Atlanta, GA MSA 726,789 2,959,500 307.2% 3,541,230 387.2%
22 Portland-Salem, OR-WA CMSA 704,829 1,793,476 154.5% 2,078,357 194.9%
23 New Orleans, LA MSA 685,405 1,285,262 87.5% 1,312,890 91.5%
24 Dayton-Springfield, OH MSA 630,303 951,270 50.9% 950,661 50.8%
25 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO CMSA 612,128 1,980,140 223.5% 2,277,401 272.0%
26 Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC MSA 601,177 1,444,710 140.3% 1,540,252 156.2%
27 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL CMSA 579,017 3,192,725 451.4% 3,514,403 507.0%
28 Louisville, KY-IN MSA 576,900 949,012 64.5% 991,765 71.9%
29 San Diego, CA MSA 556,808 2,498,016 348.6% 2,655,463 376.9%
30 Indianapolis, IN MSA 551,777 1,380,491 150.2% 1,492,297 170.5%
31 Columbus, OH MSA 503,410 1,345,450 167.3% 1,447,646 187.6%
32 San Antonio, TX MSA 500,460 1,324,749 164.7% 1,490,111 197.7%
33 Rochester, NY MSA 487,632 1,062,470 117.9% 1,088,037 123.1%
34 Memphis, TN-AR-MS MSA 482,393 1,007,306 108.8% 1,078,151 123.5%
35 Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI MSA 409,837 937,891 128.8% 1,015,099 147.7%
36 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA 409,143 2,067,959 405.4% 2,199,231 437.5%
37 Hartford, CT MSA 406,534 1,157,585 184.7% 1,144,574 181.5%
38 Oklahoma City, OK MSA 392,439 958,839 144.3% 1,026,657 161.6%
39 Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT MSA 358,214 1,072,227 199.3% 1,217,842 240.0%
40 Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC MSA 337,192 1,050,304 211.5% 1,141,238 238.5%
41 Phoenix-Mesa, AZ MSA 331,770 2,238,498 574.7% 2,746,703 727.9%
42 Nashville, TN MSA 321,758 985,026 206.1% 1,117,178 247.2%
43 Jacksonville, FL MSA 304,029 906,727 198.2% 1,008,633 231.8%
44 Sacramento-Yolo, CA CMSA 277,140 1,481,220 434.5% 1,632,133 488.9%
45 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA 238,089 858,485 260.6% 1,025,253 330.6%
46 Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC MSA 197,052 1,162,140 489.8% 1,321,068 570.4%
47 Austin-San Marcos, TX MSA 160,980 846,227 425.7% 1,041,330 546.9%
48 Orlando, FL MSA 141,833 1,224,844 763.6% 1,417,291 899.3%
49 West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL MSA 114,688 863,503 652.9% 992,840 765.7%
50 Las Vegas, NV-AZ MSA 48,289 852,646 1665.7% 1,201,073 2387.3%

50 Largest US Metropolitan Areas in 1996: Population Change from 1950
By Population Increase from 1950

Rank
Metropolitan Area 1950 1990 Change from 1950 1996 Change from 1950
1 Las Vegas, NV-AZ MSA 48,289 852,646 1665.7% 1,201,073 2387.3%
2 Orlando, FL MSA 141,833 1,224,844 763.6% 1,417,291 899.3%
3 West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL MSA 114,688 863,503 652.9% 992,840 765.7%
4 Phoenix-Mesa, AZ MSA 331,770 2,238,498 574.7% 2,746,703 727.9%
5 Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC MSA 197,052 1,162,140 489.8% 1,321,068 570.4%
6 Austin-San Marcos, TX MSA 160,980 846,227 425.7% 1,041,330 546.9%
7 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL CMSA 579,017 3,192,725 451.4% 3,514,403 507.0%
8 Sacramento-Yolo, CA CMSA 277,140 1,481,220 434.5% 1,632,133 488.9%
9 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA 409,143 2,067,959 405.4% 2,199,231 437.5%
10 Atlanta, GA MSA 726,789 2,959,500 307.2% 3,541,230 387.2%
11 San Diego, CA MSA 556,808 2,498,016 348.6% 2,655,463 376.9%
12 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX CMSA 919,767 3,731,029 305.6% 4,253,428 362.4%
13 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA 238,089 858,485 260.6% 1,025,253 330.6%
14 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CMSA 1,136,144 4,037,282 255.3% 4,574,561 302.6%
15 Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO CMSA 612,128 1,980,140 223.5% 2,277,401 272.0%
16 Nashville, TN MSA 321,758 985,026 206.1% 1,117,178 247.2%
17 Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT MSA 358,214 1,072,227 199.3% 1,217,842 240.0%
18 Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC MSA 337,192 1,050,304 211.5% 1,141,238 238.5%
19 Jacksonville, FL MSA 304,029 906,727 198.2% 1,008,633 231.8%
20 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA CMSA 4,819,599 14,531,529 201.5% 15,495,155 221.5%
21 San Antonio, TX MSA 500,460 1,324,749 164.7% 1,490,111 197.7%
22 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA CMSA 1,120,448 2,970,300 165.1% 3,320,829 196.4%
23 Portland-Salem, OR-WA CMSA 704,829 1,793,476 154.5% 2,078,357 194.9%
24 Columbus, OH MSA 503,410 1,345,450 167.3% 1,447,646 187.6%
25 Hartford, CT MSA 406,534 1,157,585 184.7% 1,144,574 181.5%
26 Indianapolis, IN MSA 551,777 1,380,491 150.2% 1,492,297 170.5%
27 Oklahoma City, OK MSA 392,439 958,839 144.3% 1,026,657 161.6%
28 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA CMSA 2,531,314 6,249,881 146.9% 6,605,428 160.9%
29 Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC MSA 601,177 1,444,710 140.3% 1,540,252 156.2%
30 Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV CMSA 2,869,488 6,726,395 134.4% 7,164,519 149.7%
31 Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI MSA 409,837 937,891 128.8% 1,015,099 147.7%
32 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI MSA 1,151,053 2,538,776 120.6% 2,765,116 140.2%
33 Memphis, TN-AR-MS MSA 482,393 1,007,306 108.8% 1,078,151 123.5%
34 Rochester, NY MSA 487,632 1,062,470 117.9% 1,088,037 123.1%
35 Kansas City, MO-KS MSA 814,357 1,582,874 94.4% 1,690,343 107.6%
36 Cleveland-Akron, OH CMSA 1,465,511 2,859,644 95.1% 2,913,430 98.8%
37 New Orleans, LA MSA 685,405 1,285,262 87.5% 1,312,890 91.5%
38 Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN CMSA 1,051,605 1,817,569 72.8% 1,920,931 82.7%
39 Louisville, KY-IN MSA 576,900 949,012 64.5% 991,765 71.9%
40 Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, MA-NH-ME-CT CMSA 3,456,063 5,455,403 57.9% 5,563,475 61.0%
41 Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI CMSA 3,421,766 5,187,171 51.6% 5,284,171 54.4%
42 Milwaukee-Racine, WI CMSA 1,066,533 1,607,183 50.7% 1,642,658 54.0%
43 Dayton-Springfield, OH MSA 630,303 951,270 50.9% 950,661 50.8%
44 St. Louis, MO-IL MSA 1,719,288 2,492,348 45.0% 2,548,238 48.2%
45 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA 4,071,814 5,893,019 44.7% 5,973,463 46.7%
46 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA CMSA 14,018,852 19,549,649 39.5% 19,938,492 42.2%
47 Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA MSA 897,500 1,134,350 26.4% 1,124,044 25.2%
48 Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI CMSA 6,869,699 8,239,820 19.9% 8,599,774 25.2%
49 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA 1,089,230 1,189,340 9.2% 1,175,240 7.9%
50 Pittsburgh, PA MSA 2,213,236 2,394,811 8.2% 2,379,411 7.5%


Demographia
DEMOGRAPHIA
is an Undertaking of
WENDELL COX CONSULTANCY
P. O. Box 841 - Belleville, IL 62269 USA
Telephone: +1.618.632.8507 - Facsimile: +1.618.632.8538

E-Mail: enquiries@demographics.com

Demographic Briefs | New Items | Book Store | Subscribe (Free)

THE PUBLIC PURPOSE
Internet Public Policy Resource

Corrections Policy, Rights & Permissions