Data Documents Divine Decade for Downtowns

Nate Berg looks at new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau that puts hard numbers behind what people across the country have observed: America's downtowns are booming again.

1 minute read

September 28, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


As Berg notes, the new figures [PDF] released by the Census Bureau show that across America downtown populations grew significantly between 2000 and 2010. "Together, the total metro population living within four miles of city
hall is more than 54 million – almost 21 percent of America's metro
population. That's 17.5 percent of the national population living within
a quick car ride, 30-minute bike ride or hour-long walk of the center
of a big city," writes Berg. 

The downtown growth has not been consistent across all metro areas, however, with larger metro areas showing a higher growth rate. "[T]those with populations of 5 million or more, saw a collective growth
rate of more than 13 percent in the areas within two miles of city hall," reports Berg. While, "Metros
with fewer than 2.5 million people saw only modest increases (0.2
percent for the 500,000 to 999,999 group) or even decreases (-1.2
percent for the 1 million to 2.499 million group)."

It's worth noting that the notable downtown growth did not preclude the expansion of the country's suburban and exurban areas as population centers. "And that's especially true in the largest
metropolitan areas," writes Berg. "While the close-in areas in these metros' downtown
saw double-digit growth between 2000 and 2010, so did areas 30 miles and
beyond."

Thursday, September 27, 2012 in The Atlantic Cities

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

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 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight