Last Year's Boom Towns: Location Intelligence Firm Announces the '7 from 2007'
1/8/2008 - Brighton, Colorado
Gadberry Group today announced its list of last year's seven most notable areas in the U.S. - Gadberry Group's 7 from 2007.
Gadberry Group's 7 from 2007
- Frisco, TX (Dallas suburb)
- Brighton, CO (Denver suburb)
- Goodyear, AZ (Phoenix suburb)
- Plainfield, IL (Chicago suburb)
- North Port, FL (Sarasota suburb)
- Lawrenceville, GA (Atlanta suburb)
- Wentzville, MO (St. Louis suburb)
"Some of the areas on the list are known for their dramatic,
hockey-stick growth, but there were definitely a couple of surprises
that emerged during our statistical evaluation," said Gadberry Group
principal, Larry Martin. Headquartered in Little Rock, AR, Gadberry
Group provides location intelligence services and data for the world's
top retail brands.
According to Martin, most researchers agree that Census data has
been the standard for understanding the distribution and demographic
makeup of the U.S. population. "But Census data is almost eight years
old, so recent growth in rapidly changing markets can't be captured
using only traditional Census data estimates and projections," he
added.
The firm employed a statistical ranking system in their evaluation
of the 17,000 Census Places, using current demographic consumer data
and a proprietary household geo-demographic technology. The selection
criteria and statistical methodology accounted for high-change
household and population change variables such as percent change,
absolute change and the presence of emerging Census blocks (blocks with
less than 10 households in Census 2000 and more than 100 households in
2007). Other variables, such as ethnic composition and household income
change were considered in the ranking system.
"Our analysis revealed that Frisco's population growth was the most
significant among all Census Places in the nation," said Martin. "In
fact, Collin County and the entire North Dallas Corridor saw dramatic
growth in 2007."
By the Numbers - 7 from 2007
Frisco, Texas - "More and more people are calling Frisco home
than ever before and they're attracted to our community for a variety
of reasons," said Frisco Mayor Mike Simpson. "Our location is ideal,
since the Dallas North Tollway extends through our community, north to
south. We have low taxes, a low crime rate and top-notch schools. Our
infrastructure is solid, providing excellent roads, water and sewer
services, not to mention numerous new city facilities."
Since Census 2000, Frisco's population grew 156% and there were 17
emerging blocks. Gadberry ethnic data revealed that Asian households in
Frisco increased from 248 in 2000 to 1,695 in 2007 (583%). Indian
households made up 31% of all Asian households and Chinese households
represented 27%. Hispanic households increased from 911 in 2000 to
2,611 in 2007 (187%).
Brighton, Colorado - "For fast-growing cities like Brighton,
Census-based data has been inaccurate and doesn't take into account
what's actually happening in our market," said Susan Stanton, Brighton
Economic Development Corp. president and CEO. "The Gadberry Group's
data is the most accurate representation of our population and
validates what we've been experiencing since the Denver International
Airport entered the global transportation stage. Companies like Staples
and Toshiba have seen the obvious strategic advantages of being in
Brighton."
Brighton grew from 9,755 households in 2000 to 21,608 in 2007 (122%)
with the household growth from 2006 to 2007 at 13%. Brighton had 28
emerging blocks last year, the largest number in Gadberry's 7 from 2007
list. Japanese households in Brighton make up 43% of all Asian
households. Since Census 2000, the average household income grew from
$55,989 to $65,759, with the highest number of households in the
$80,000 to $89,999 range.
Goodyear, Arizona - Household growth in Goodyear increased
from 7,459 in 2000 to 19,804 households in 2007 (166%). Goodyear had 21
emerging blocks, second only to Brighton among Gadberry's notable
Places from 2007. Goodyear's Hispanic households increased from 828 in
2000 to 3,053 in 2007 (269%). According to Gadberry data, 43% of all
Hispanic households in Goodyear are bilingual, speaking primarily
Spanish but understanding English, and 40% are assimilated, or English
speaking only. Together with neighboring Avondale, the combined
Goodyear/Avondale area grew from 18,519 in 2000 to 42,926 in 2007
(122%).
"Fast growing communities like ours need accurate, up-to-date
population numbers," said Harry Paxton, City of Goodyear Economic
Development director. "This data provides a very detailed 21st century
household demographic profile showing who the customers are in a market
area. Quality data like this can help us market to corporate America
why Goodyear is an excellent location choice in the Greater Phoenix
area."
Plainfield, Illinois - The number of Village of Plainfield
households grew from 6,903 in 2000 to 13,849 households in 2007 (101%).
Plainfield's growth continues unabated as evidenced by a 17.5% growth
from 2006 to 2007 from 11,782 households to 13,849, which represents
29.8% of total growth since 2000. There were 16 emerging blocks last
year in Plainfield.
"Over the past five years the Village has experienced tremendous
commercial development including a Barnes & Noble, Target, Super
Wal-Mart, Kohl's and a Meijers. In 2007 the Village approved the first
life style center which will contain approximately 600,000 square feet
and will contain Von Maur Department store as one of the major
anchors," said Michael Garrigan, Village of Plainfield planner.
North Port, Florida - North Port grew from 8,948 households
in 2000 to 19,554 households in 2007 (119%) and had seven emerging
blocks since the last Census. The number of Hispanic households
increased the most - from 219 to 1,169 (434%) from 2000 to 2007. Puerto
Rican households were predominant among Hispanic households. Gadberry's
ethnic data indicates that 57% of Hispanic households are assimilated
with 43% bilingual, speaking Spanish primarily but understanding
English.
According to City Manager Steven Crowell, North Port has taken steps
to accommodate its growing population. The city has built several
parks, repaved more than 100 miles of neighborhood streets and is in
the midst of widening several major roadways.
"North Port encompasses a 103 square-mile area and is currently
about 20% built out, so we have great opportunities for even more
growth," said Crowell. "A great example of this is West Villages, a
planned commercial and 15,000-home residential development that is
already under construction. Last year we had retailers such as Home
Depot and Wal-Mart locate here. Lowe's Home Improvement is about to
begin construction. Meanwhile, we've added several new shopping centers
featuring smaller businesses, such as locally owned restaurants, ice
cream parlors and furniture stores."
Lawrenceville, Georgia - "As most demographic researchers
know, the southeast portion of the United States has experienced
significant growth," said Martin. "An Atlanta suburb, Lawrenceville is
a great example of that phenomenon."
Lawrenceville grew from 27,107 households in 2000 to 43,013
households in 2007 (59%) and had nine emerging blocks. Together with
nearby Dacula, the combined Places of Lawrenceville and Dacula area
grew from 30,618 in 2000 to 50,637 in 2007 (65%).
Wentzville, Missouri - Household growth in Wentzville grew
from 3,966 in 2000 to 9,574 households in 2007 (141%) and had four
emerging blocks. Gadberry data indicates that Wentzville continues to
grow and added almost 1,500 households to its base of 8,080 in 2006 (an
estimated18.5% year over year growth). The combined Wentzville/O'Fallon
area grew from 29,806 in 2000 to 48,237 in 2007 (62%).
EDITOR'S NOTE: TO ACCESS PUBLISHABLE MAPS AND FOR QUICK ACCESS TO
OTHER POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FOR THE 7 FROM 2007 PLACES, CLICK
HERE.
About The Gadberry Group
The Gadberry Group provides location-based services and information
data products for clients who demand the most current, accurate, and
precise household and population data for their site location analysis.
MicroBuild™, Gadberry's patent-pending product, is unique because only
MicroBuild™ uses consumer data at the rooftop level to deliver
quarterly household and population counts beginning at the Census block
level. For more information about Gadberry Group, visit www.gadberry.net.
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Please visit the GIS Data for Brighton from Gadberry Group.