EL PASO’S GHASTLY GROWTH
Actually, it could be described a “ghostly” growth just as well because growth is almost non-existent. You may have seen an analysis of the Census Bureau’s latest estimates in the on-line newspaper El Paso Matters written by founder Bob Moore or the story about the story on KTSM. Here are a few figures I found interesting and distressing.
“El Paso County’s population grew by 0.1% in 2024, the lowest growth rate among Texas’ 10 most populous counties.” “Since the last census in 2020, El Paso County’s population has grown by just over 10,000 people or 1.2%, ….. the slowest growth among Texas’ largest counties.” “In 2024, El Paso County experienced a net loss of more than 7,300 people in people coming or going to or from other U.S. counties.” “Since the 2020 census, the net loss has been 17,702.” “Between 2010 and 2019, El Paso County averaged an annual loss of about 6,000 people in domestic migration. The last year El Paso County saw a net gain in domestic migration was 2011, when Fort Bliss was expanding.” From 2021-2024 the average annual number of births was 15% lower than in the previous decade. “Between 2010 and 2019, El Paso had an average gain in international migration of 1,932 people a year.” In 2024 the gain was 4,300 people. Since 2021, the average annual death rate is 43% greater than in the prior decade.
EDITORIAL OPINION: I find all these figures concerning for a number of reasons but here are just a few in no particular order of importance—musings if you will that are my views and mine alone, that do not necessarily reflect the views of Five Points Development Association and certainly are not an official position of that organization.
Fred Evans, president
