Five Small Towns in Texas that are on the Rise

At three times the size of the United Kingdom and with immense natural resources, it is little wonder why Texas is a boom state. However, it is also on the rise, in terms of population, in terms of income, and in terms of business opportunities. The Dallas Federal Reserve has shown that Texas has seen more growth in higher paying jobs than any other state across the United States. Due to this success it is drawing new migrants from across the United States and from abroad, which is all the time adding to this growth and rise in productivity.

In fact, by itself, Texas would still be counted within the top 25 economies in the world. Cities across the state are fighting it out between them for this growth and the city mayors are doing all they can to attract more people and to get bigger and better. This list takes a look at five towns that are significantly on the rise. It is based on the three main drivers of growth: population growth, income and employment growth. The list counts down to five to one although in reality they are all moving and shaking at different rates at different times so could all be counted on a fairly level playing field.

5. Schertz

Schertz is located in Guadalupe, Bexar and Comal counties and lies within the San Antonio – New Braunfels ametropolitan area. It has close ties with the Randolph Air Force Base and is also nearby to the Sam Houston Fort and Lackland Air Force Base. Indeed, these close military links have a lot to do with its success in terms of growth. According to US census data the percentage of this town’s residents in the workforce has grown by 7% since 2009.

Further, the overall population has grown by 17.8%. The first settlers came to Schertz around 1843 but it is only really since the late 1990s that the place has experienced significant growth. Indeed, from 2000 to 2005, the population grew from 18,694 people to 26,463. In terms of entertainment and culture there is a growing number of festivals, including the annual SchertzFest which takes place every year in late September. It brings together performers, food sellers and the people of the city to celebrate the city’s foundation.

4. Big Spring

Big Spring can be found in north western Texas in the county of Howard where US Highway 87 and the Interstate 20 intersect. It gets its name from the large spring that is located at the base of Scenic Mountain. It is the location of one of the largest wind farms in North America, a primary reason for why it has grown in recent years. Several major hang gliding championships are held at Big Spring due to its perfect conditions for the sport.

As well as wind the city has oil is large quantities, along the Cline Shale, a 140 miles area underneath the city. It has the potential to hold 3.6 million barrels per square mile which makes it the largest deposit in the United States. Further exploration and prospecting is driving up incomes and employment opportunities in the area. Indeed, between 2009 and 2012 the population increased by 13.8% and income 14%. There are also a load of supporting jobs in healthcare and manufacturing.

There is a specific company that has been set up to help further growth as it happens – the Big Spring Economic Development Corporation.

3. Del Rio

Del Rio can be found near the border with Mexico in western Texas, in the county of Val Verde. It is home to the Laughlin Air Force Base and is the busiest United States Air Force pilot training base in the world. It is also situated on the banks of Lake Armistad, which is the second largest lake in Texas. The major employers in the city include the San Felipe Del Rio school district, the federal agencies, the air base and the Val Verde Regional Medical Center. It is a very popular border crossing location, particularly because it has the shortest border in Texas. This has added to its growth as a city.

2. Mansfield

Located in the north of the state, Mansfield is really a suburb in Tarrant County, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area. Its population has nearly tripled since 2000. In the CNN / Money Magazine annual ‘Best Places to Live’ list, Mansfield was ranked at number 17, which is pretty impressive. The percentage of people employed in the city increased by 5.6% between 2009 and 2012.

Klein Tools, which is based in Chicago, recently chose Klein as a new base for advanced manufacturing, making the most of the Texas Enterprise Fund, which was created by Governor Rick Perry to entice businesses to relocate to Texas. This particular move created another 585 jobs in Mansfield. The major employers include the Mansfield Independent School District, Mouser Electronics, Methodist Mansfield Medical center, the City of Mansfield, Wal-Mart and Target. All of these companies are planning further growth for the area.

1. The Woodlands

The Woodlands was only founded in 1974 and is a master planned community in the Houston Woodlands Sugar Land metropolitan area in the east of the state. Between 2000 and 2014 the population increased an incredible 93.7%. It began as a suburban development but has since attracted many corporations so it has become an impressive settlement in its own right. Back in 1994 it won a Special Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute.

It is no wonder that it is still the fastest growing area in Texas. The massive company ExxonMobil has chosen to base itself in the area and they employ more than 10,000 people. To this can be added the various restaurant, construction and retail jobs that always comes along with the base of a big company in an area. Energy is also an important sector for the city with lots of jobs in the oil and wind industries.

Texas has a lot to offer and this is why it is attracting such significant amounts of growth. In addition to the huge natural resources the politicians are luring in businesses with cheap business rates which is aiding growth in population and job opportunities. This is also helping tax revenue so overall everybody wins. The future for Texas surely remains bright.