Las Vegas is the fastest growing area in the nation, according to a Census 2000 report. Recent population growth has been greatest in the suburbs. The central cities in metropolitan areas averaged growth of 3.5 percent in the 1990s, while areas outside the central cities climbed 12.5 percent.

Metro Area	Growth*	Population
1. Las Vegas	83.3%	1,563,282
2. Naples, Fla.	65.3%	251,377
3. Yuma, Ariz.	49.7%	160,026
4. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas	48.5%	569,463
5. Austin-San Marcos, Texas	47.7%	1,249,763
6. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.	47.5%	311,121
7. Boise City, Idaho	46.1%	432,345
8. Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.	45.3%	3,251,876
9. Laredo, Texas	44.9%	193,117
10. Provo-Orem, Utah	39.8%	368,536

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

* Growth rate from 1990 to 2000

View more articles, issues, questions or lists.