AUSTIN, Texas — On Tuesday, the Austin City Council discussed the demographics behind the Austin area's growth, with a city demographer saying Austin's population has doubled every 20 to 25 years but recent growth is happening at a slower pace.
City Demographer Lila Valencia shared a series of maps to break down the research.
Areas that saw the most growth included The Domain, Mueller and Circle C. Between 2010 to 2020, the suburbs of Austin saw the greatest population growth. One trend Valencia discussed is there is an eastward movement of the population, with more Black and Hispanic families moving farther outside the city.
The research showed affordability and displacement are disproportionately impacting communities of color.
"The data offers opportunities for reflection. Austin remains geographically and racially segregated. There is a farther eastward movement of the Eastern Crescent with increasing shares and numbers of population of color farther in the fringes. Although we are more diverse today, Austin experienced a decline in the number of Black and Latino children. And although Austin leads in many socioeconomic indicators, significant racial disparities remain," Valencia said.
Valencia also said she hopes the city council can consider the demographic shifts the city is facing when drafting policies and decision-making.
For a PowerPoint of the presentation, visit the City of Austin website.
Boomtown is KVUE's series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.