If you live in the mid-atlantic region, you have probably never heard of Gilbert, Miramar and Elk Grove. Yet, situated on the edges of existing metro areas, they were the fastest growing communities in the recently released census estimates of growth between 2000-2005. A trend attributed largely to high-housing prices, the growth in remote communities has outpaced the fastest growing central cities of 90s - Dallas, Phoenix and San Diego.
Among other interesting observations - "More cities with 100,000-plus residents shrank from 2004 to 2005 than in the previous year: 97 vs. 82. Costly coastal cities are among the new losers: New York, San Diego and Long Beach."
