By Ronald J. Hansen | The Arizona Republic
Shaking off a population slump tied to the housing bust, Phoenix once again was among the nation’s fastest-growing cities last year, newly released Census Bureau estimates show.
The city added more than 24,000 new residents and edged closer to overtaking Philadelphia as the fifth-largest city in the country. The population surge spilled into the Valley’s suburbs as well, with 11 municipalities adding a collective 42,000 new residents. Among them was Buckeye, which ranked as the ninth-fastest growing city in the nation in 2012.
Nationwide, 94 of the 100 largest cities gained population, a sharp improvement from recent years when growth was more subdued. The gains were sharpest in Texas, with six of the nation’s 20 largest cities growing briskly again.
The annual census estimates are slightly higher than estimates produced by the state, but they both suggest growth is picking up momentum in Arizona again.
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