The region that includes Temple and Belton ranked eighth in population growth among 26 metropolitan statistical areas between 2000 and 2010’s census, according to new data from Texas A&M University.

The Real Estate Center there issued its 2011 Texas Metro Market Overview last week. The web-based data source includes economic indicator information on all metro areas.

Between 2000 and 2010 the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood metro area grew by 22.6 percent, a growth rate that outpaced the state as a whole. Texas grew by 16.6 percent during the decade.

The fastest growing metro area at 37.3 percent was the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA. Second was the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA with a growth rate of 36.1 percent.

MSAs that grew by a higher percentage than K-T-FH included Laredo, Houston-Sugarland-Baytown, San Antonio-New Braunfels, College Station-Bryan, and Dallas-Fort Worth and Arlington.

Wichita Falls ranked at the bottom of the growth list because it lost population during the 10-year period.

cwilson@tdtnews.com

Year Texas State Data Center (Scenario 0.5) Texas Water Development Board
2000 330,714 330,714
2005 361,279
2010 391,281 397,493
2015 420,350
2020 448,189 452,620
2025 476,453
2030 504,295 505,769
2035 530,294
2040 553,624 549,087
Source: Texas State Data Center (February 2009 projection) and Texas Water Development Board (July 2010 projection)

About Temple:
Temple, Texas is a community with a diverse economic base that includes healthcare, distribution and warehousing, and manufacturing as the foundation. Within 180 miles of a population of 17.8 million, Temple is in a strategic location that is central within the southwest U.S. marketplace.