Census says city 2nd fastest growing in 2008

By DON INGRAM
Publisher
The U.S. Census Bureau last week released information showing Andrews the 2nd fastest growing city in its category in the entire nation between 2007 and 2008. The census bureau’s data was collected in July 2008.
The bureau annually reviews statistical data and information using administrative records to estimate population changes.
The announcement surrounded growth with cities in metropolitan and in micropolitan areas, which is where the City of Andrews is listed.
Micropolitan areas are cities that contain an urban core of at least 10,000 people, but less than 50,000, and are located near metropolitan cities, in our case, Midland- Odessa. The census bureau lists 577 areas in the U.S. in this classification.
The fastest growing micro area was Safford, Ariz. Which grew by 4.1 percent and
Andrews was 2nd, growing by 4 percent between 2007 and 2008. In the metropolitan classification, or cities with a
core population of 50,000, Raleigh, N.C., and Austin-Round Rock were the nation’s fastest growing metro areas,
Raleigh seeing 4.3 percent growth and Austin-Round rock 3.8 percent growth.
The announcement both surprised and excited local officials who were elated about the census bureau’s report. “It’s unbelievable and quite an accomplishment,” said Andrews City Manager Glen Hackler, who credited much of the new growth to goals set nearly 10 years ago during ASAP meetings by the public. The round-table townhall style meetings were officially described as Andrews Strategic Action Plan and set in motion both a tone and plan for turning things around in the bedroom community 30 miles north of Odessa and 45 miles north-west of Midland. The city had suffered from several downturns in the oil and gas industry and lost population and retail businesses.
Hackler said the designation means Andrews was the fastest growing micro area in Texas and the U.S., “an amazing accomplishment,” he said.Among the 557 micro areas there are 42 in Texas, included Alice, Athens, Bay City, Beeville, Big Spring, Brenham, Corsicana, Brownwood, Fredericksburg, Granbury, Kerrville, Lufkin, Marshall, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Paris, Plainview and Stephenville. In another comparison, Hobbs, N.M. grew by 2 percent.
Of the 42 micro cities 33 either experienced a population loss or increases of less than 1 percent. Granbury was second to Andrews with 3.1 percent, followed by Sweetwater with 2.3 percent and Dumas and Mt. Pleasant with 2 percent each.
Hackler said obviously the last two years were very busy in Andrews with a robust oil and gas economy, but there were also other avenues of growth associated with the emergence of nuclear-related industries that brought in more people and families.
“It reaffirms what’s been happening in the community,” said Andrews Economic Development Coordinator Wesley Burnett, who heads the community’s efforts for economic diversification. “It’s a big positive sign,” he added.
The community the last four or five years has made progress in cleaning and beautifying as with the removal of dilapidated homes and structures that are condemned and removed with major assistance of Andrews County. A state grant helped build a new lighted softball complex, while new parks and walking paths have been upgraded and new ones constructed.
Another grant along with major funding from the city and county went toward construction
of the community college—Andrews Business & Technology Center—while the county’s construction of the Andrews County Expo Arena has proven to be a boon in bringing in ropers and rodeo events on almost a weekly
basis, usually on weekends.
A new nursing home (Andrews Residential Care Center) and hotel (Holiday Inn Express) and renovated motels, upgrades to Permian Regional Medical Center and the addition of the Brian and Sue Gordon Imaging Center (MRI) has also added greatly to the mix in services and jobs.
Through local bond issues local schools have been upgrades, including at Andrews High School with a performance center, while new classrooms and gym were added at Andrews Middle School, along with a new baseball field at AHS and two new elementaries were also constructed.
“A lot of it is the quality of life issues,” Hackler said about the ongoing efforts to improve the community. Last year saw beautification around the Andrews Courthouse Square and nearby
businesses, while additional upgrades are planned when TxDOT does street renovations to Broadway this summer.
Andrews County Chamber of Commerce Manager Julia Wallace said the designation just confirms what residents already knew, that Andrews has been busy…and growing. “We’re a great community with lots of amenities like good schools, hospital, golf course, and a can-do attitude that obviously shows with all that we’ve done.
Wallace said Andrews’ location near larger cities, but away from all their congestion and everything makes it an ideal place to live and work and raise a family.