Impact and Distribution of Future USA Population Growth

Inform planners about dramatic slowdown in USA population growth projected by the Census Bureau, and the components of anticipated future changes.  Offer insights as to where such changes will affect communities the most.  Stimulate discussion and ideas for addressing challenges.

No paper or other report has yet been finished.  That is underway as we speak.  Some highlights include:

Census Bureau projections of U.S. growth rates to 2060 show unprecedented sluggishness.  Capturing more national growth within any community or state will become more difficult because the future "pie" will be smaller.  The 2010s was the slowest growth decade since 1790 except the 1930s.  It only gets slower based on Census projections to 2060.  Communities and states will have to work extra hard to attract more people to fill vacant homes or enhance market economics.  Flyover states and rural areas are likely to be most negatively affected, given the relative "popularity" of major cities on the coasts and parts of the south.  This session is intended to emphasize the seriousness of this population slowdown (though not national decline) in community's that have planned for growth.  Some strategic re-thinking and re-planning may be in order.  Planning for economic and wealth expansion may take higher priority than simply more people and more housing.