America 2050: The South's 4 emerging megaregions

[Johnny Ryall]

Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion

http://www.america2050.org/piedmont_atlantic.html

The low cost of living and high quality of life in the Southeast are two reasons for this megaregion's booming population, which is anchored by Atlanta but stretches east to Raleigh, North Carolina and west to Birmingham, Alabama. The region is facing challenges associated with its growing population, such as increased traffic congestion, runaway land consumption, and inadequate infrastructure, which it hopes to address with sustainable solutions.

Location: Southeast U.S. - From Birmingham in the southwest to Raleigh-Durham in the northeast
Principal Cities: Atlanta, Birmingham, Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte
Population 2010: 17,611,162
Percent of U.S. Population: 6%
Population: 2025: 21,687,449
Population 2050: 31,342,393
Projected Growth (2010 - 2050): 78.0 percent (13,731,231)
2005 GDP: $485,753,000,000
Percent of US GDP: 4%

http://www.america2050.org/piedmont_atlantic.html

Florida Megaregion

http://www.america2050.org/florida.html

The Florida Megaregion is one of the fastest growing in the nation and possesses a wealth of diversity, with six of every 10 new residents in the last decade coming from foreign countries. It is both dense and populous, with the major international city of Miami acting as a gateway to Latin America. Regional strategies to protect the Everglades have preserved the natural heritage of the state.

Location: The east and west coast, central and south Florida
Principal Cities: Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville
Population 2010: 17,272,595
Percent of U.S. Population: 6%
Population 2025: 21,449,652
Population 2050: 31,122,998
Projected Growth (2010 - 2050): 80.2 percent (13,850,403)
2005 GDP: $608,082,000,000
Percent of US GDP: 5%

http://www.america2050.org/florida.html

Gulf Coast Megaregion

http://www.america2050.org/gulf_coast.html

Despite its strong cultural traditions, the Gulf Coast as a continuous megaregion lacks the political cohesion of the nearby Texas Triangle. However, the recent devastation from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the resulting displacement of hurricane victims along the I-10 corridor highlighted the environmental, transportation, and economic links of the Gulf Coast. Despite the recent devastation, the region is expected to grow due to the continued in-migration of retirees from the Midwest.

Location: The Gulf Coast - Including parts of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle
Principal Cities: Houston, New Orleans, Baton Rouge
Population 2010: 13,414,934
Percent of U.S. Population: 4%
Population 2025: 16,334,987
Population 2050: 23,666,122
Projected Growth (2010 - 2050): 76.4 percent (10,251,188)
2005 GDP: $524,122,000,000
Percent of US GDP: 4%

http://www.america2050.org/gulf_coast.html

Texas Triangle Megaregion

http://www.america2050.org/texas_triangle.html

By 2050 about 35 million people, or 70 percent of the population of Texas, will live in the four metropolitan areas that comprise the Texas Triangle. Three of the nation's 10 largest cities are in the Triangle, including Houston, which has a port that handles more foreign tonnage than any other U.S. port. Efforts to create a NAFTA superhighway from Mexico to Canada could create a developed corridor through San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas. Tradition and economics create the potential for economic collaboration between the metro regions, which could also address serious environmental concerns.

Location: Eastern Texas
Principal Cities: Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio
Population 2010: 19,728,244
Percent of U.S. Population: 6%
Population 2025: 24,809,567
Population 2050: 38,132,600
Projected Growth (2010 - 2050): 93.3 percent (18,404,356)
2005 GDP: $817,510,000,000
Percent of US GDP: 7%

http://www.america2050.org/texas_triangle.html

[urbanaturalist]

Interesting. Seen it before, but interesting way to present it.

Texas is still going supposedly outrun the Piedmont Atlantic area by 2050 by 7 million people...crazy...

[spencer114]

I hope those numbers are severely exaggerated. That's way too many people. The high standard of living is greatly diminished with 200 million people living in the South. That's just nasty!

[GarfieldPark]

I added up the projected populations of the four regions and the total population for those four SE megaregions in 2050 was about 110 million (I subtracted 15 million because I didn't want to double count the Houston Metro which is in two megaregions. Are you assuming there will be another 90 million people filling in all of the areas in between the mega regions? 110 million is a lot -- but its not quite as high as 200 million - so you don't need to be quite as concerned.

[desertpunk]

Originally Posted by spencer114

I hope those numbers are severely exaggerated. That's way too many people. The high standard of living is greatly diminished with 200 million people living in the South. That's just nasty!

Time to go vertical!

[Solopop]

If those are numbers for those areas, imagine the California coast.

[musiccity]

Originally Posted by Solopop

If those are numbers for those areas, imagine the California coast.

Actually a lot of people in California are moving to these regions, it's not so much about climate but economy and cost of living.

[Shawn]

Originally Posted by musiccity

Actually a lot of people in California are moving to these regions, it's not so much about climate but economy and cost of living.

Domestic out migration yes, but California still netted over 3 million people between 2000 and 2010. It's still one of the top destinations for immigrants.

[I-275westcoastfl]

I can see the Gulf Coast and Florida region merging which would be amazing if those growth projections come true, about 55million people.. Crazy!

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by I-275westcoastfl

I can see the Gulf Coast and Florida region merging which would be amazing if those growth projections come true, about 55million people.. Crazy!

Do you really mean Gulf Coast and Central Florida regions?

[diablo234]

Originally Posted by I-275westcoastfl

I can see the Gulf Coast and Florida region merging which would be amazing if those growth projections come true, about 55million people.. Crazy!

Well there isn't really any significant towns other than Tallahassee between Pensacola and Gainesville, so I expect that area to still remain rural in the future, unless some sort of development boom takes place in the panhandle.

[IberiaCLT]

I hate the word mega region. If by mega region we mean like New England, than yeah. But Mega region sounds like some word they made up in the 1991 with the pictures of fictional super sonic jets zipping around in the year 2000... It also make me think of continuous urban/suburban region. Which I can't see that ever happening... At least for the Charlotte/Atlanta Region.

I85 from Atlanta to Raleigh has tonssss of Rural Spots.



And that population map looks weird. It makes Spartenburg/Greenville look massive and in the Charlotte Metro, it makes Gastonia look huge. Gastonia is the largest city outside of metro Charlotte, but still... The Momentum is for the other cities in the metro....


It's interesting never the less.

[I-275westcoastfl]

Originally Posted by diablo234

Well there isn't really any significant towns other than Tallahassee between Pensacola and Gainesville, so I expect that area to still remain rural in the future, unless some sort of development boom takes place in the panhandle.

I agree, the Panhandle will likely remain a small population area for years to come. There just isn't that much out there to draw people for the time being.

Originally Posted by QuantumX

Do you really mean Gulf Coast and Central Florida regions?

Well assuming that the pattern of sprawl remains the same I think one day there will be some kind of continuous development from Tampa Bay all the way to Daytona Beach. That would be the Centreal Florida megaregion, but I also predict one day there will be development from Miami all the way up to Daytona Beach. Lastly there is the southwest Florida region Sarasota/Bradenton to Ft. Meyers which also will connect one day. It really isn't that far off if you look at google maps, all it would take is another boom and it would happen, wouldn't be dense obviously. This is of course minus any preserves which may and I hope will be created. But those 3 regions of development will connect, maybe even Jacksonville will join. I'd call that the Florida mega-region, maybe only California and Texas along with Florida are the only states where we could witness large mega-regions within a state.

[TampaMike]

The only main city between the Florida Megaregion and the Gulf Coast is Tallahassee. Comparing Tallahassee to areas of Piedmont Atlantic, Tallahassee is closer to Gainesville than Birmingham is to Atlanta. Also, Birmingham is further away from Huntsville than Tallahassee is to Panama City. And going off population, Tallahassee beats Huntsville by city population numbers but loses through metro, I believe almost by 100,000.

[RandomNameTag]

I find that Atlantic Piedmont map to be rediculous. Nashville and Memphis are in there, but Chattanooga is not?

I worry for the people that live in these regions. Driving will get worse and worse with time. Luckily, I live in the quiet area that's south of Atlanta/Charlotte and north of Florida.

[Johnny Ryall]

Originally Posted by RandomNameTag

I find that Atlantic Piedmont map to be rediculous. Nashville and Memphis are in there, but Chattanooga is not? I worry for the people that live in these regions. Driving will get worse and worse with time. Luckily, I live in the quiet area that's south of Atlanta/Charlotte and north of Florida.

I was somewhat suprised to see both Chattanooga & Knoxville missing from the mix, but I'm not exactly sure about the formula of metrics used in deciding that other than this is where economic & population growth will be concentrated going into 2050. Knoxville has a great reputation and Chattanooga has seen a relatively large turnaround in the past decade or so. I wouldn't second guess the smaller metros of North Carolina because that state is second only to Texas for economic growth. Nearly the whole state is on fire. Nashville & Memphis, of course have the industrial assets to build upon and infrastructure to remain competitive for Tennessee. Although, I do believe both Chat & Knox have bright, stable futures.