A City To Live In

The tide is turning from the last half century, with population trends heading inward and urban from the sundered seas of suburbia.

1 minute read

January 23, 2010, 7:00 AM PST

By The Intrepid Staff


"The downward [resident population] forces held the upper hand from 1950 to 2000 - the suburban half-century. It wasn't until very near the new millennium that the fortunes of older cities like Philadelphia began to turn. Crime was dropping, and the Brookings Institution came out with a report in 1999 that predicted that the number of downtown residents would increase by 2010 in Philadelphia and major cities throughout the US - although cities as a whole were predicted to continue to lose population.

'As the Philadelphia numbers show, Brookings may have underestimated the urban comeback. Nor was Philadelphia unique. Boston, which made four Census Bureau challenges since 2006, has seen its official population rise to 620,535 from 559,034, according to a report in the Philadelphia Daily News. In the midst of the worst economy since the 1930s, Washington, DC, added nearly 10,000 residents from 2008 to 2009, according to the Census Bureau. The city has gained about 28,000 people since 2000. New York City, Alexandria, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and many other cities have challenged population estimates and found unexpected new residents."

Thanks to Renee Brutvan

Friday, January 15, 2010 in New Urban News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

2 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

3 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

4 hours ago - Cities Today