Population in Midland Texas Could Spike By 500K People

According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, a recent study by the Texas Demographic Center shows Midland County poised for a population boom that would add more than 570,000 people to the area by 2050. The increase would amount to a change of 318 percent if the migration pattern observed between 2010-2015 continues. Four other Permian Basin counties are also slated for extreme population growth.

Andrews ranked second. Its population of 14,786 could change by 580.56 percent to a population of 100,627 by 2050, according to the center. Crane County ranked fourth. Its population of 4,375 could change by 320.98 percent to a population of 18,418 by 2050. Midland ranked fifth. Its population of 136,872 could change by 318.70 percent to a population of 573,085 by 2050. The center ranks Ector County ninth. Its population of 137,130 could change by 260.54 percent to a population of 494,413 by 2050.

The top 10 counties projected to have the fastest growth rates are a combination of suburban counties, such as Hays, Kendall, Williamson, Fort Bend and Comal, and counties in the Permian Basin area. All of these counties are projected to more than double their respective populations between 2010 and 2050, adding a total population of more than 4.8 million, or 22 percent of the total state population change projected between 2010 and 2050.

The Texas Demographic Center, according to a press release, produces population projections for 40 years beyond the most recent census to help planners and policymakers anticipate future demand for services and pressures on infrastructure.