Growing and Growing

Surprising Austin neighbor named the fastest-growing city in America

Georgetown is the fastest-growing city in America.

Photo courtesy of City of Georgetown

It's been hinted at before, but the numbers keep confirming that Texas is growing by leaps and bounds. In the latest study from the U.S. Census Bureau, five of the nation's 11 fastest-growing cities are in the Lone Star State.

And who tops them all? Georgetown. The charming city less than an hour outside of Austin saw its population rise 7.8 percent between mid-2014 and mid-2015, making it the nation’s fastest-growing city with a population of 50,000 or more.

Nearby New Braunfels and Pflugerville are also on the list. New Braunfels claims the second spot with a 6.6 percent population increase, and Pflugerville barely misses the top 10 with a 4.5 increase. Other booming Texas cities include Frisco near Dallas (No. 4) and Pearland near Houston (No. 7).

In 2015, Austin crossed the 2 million population threshold for the first time and is predicted to hit 3 million by 2030. During this period, however, the Capital City added more people (19,000) than all but seven other U.S. cities.

Turns out Texas isn't so far behind New York City, either. Houston comes in right behind the Big Apple on the list of largest numeric increases for cities with a population of 50,000 or more, having added 40,032 people by July 1, 2015.

San Antonio takes fourth (29,536 new residents), Fort Worth sixth (19,894), Dallas seventh (19,642), and Austin eighth (19,117).

Houston is crowned the most populous city in Texas, and second nationally only to NYC. San Antonio isn't far behind at No. 7, and Dallas manages to sneak in at No. 9. Austin misses the top 10 by about 70,000 residents.

Arlington rejoined the list of the 50 most populous cities, displacing Cleveland.

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birding is for everyone

Texas takes flight as the 3rd best state for birdwatching

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

The Carolina wren is a popular bird in Austin.

This is the year Texans get outdoors and enjoy the sound of birdsong: The Lone Star State has soared to the top as the No. 3 best state for birdwatching in 2025, according to a new study by Lawn Love.

The report ranked all 50 states based on five "feather-forward" categories, such as each state's climate, conservation efforts, access to parks and sanctuaries, number of bird varieties, and general popularity of the hobby.

California (No. 1) and Florida (No. 2) were the two bird-loving states that scored higher than Texas, while New York (No. 4) and Washington (No. 5) rounded out the top five.

Here's how the report breaks down Texas' rank across the five main categories:

No. 1 – Bird variety rank
No. 1 – Conservation rank
No. 7 – Access rank
No. 25 – Climate rank
No. 41 – Popularity rank

Lawn Love's findings revealed that 679 different species of birds can be found in Texas, which is the second greatest numerical variety of birds nationwide. The report added there are five different Audubon societies and sanctuaries in the state, and 19 wildlife refuges.

Audobon Texas' "Lights Out, Texas!" campaign is a major contributor to the state's No. 1 rank in conservation, as the program raises awareness and educates about light pollution, which effects billions of migratory birds that fly through the state every year.

"Approximately 1 of every 3 birds migrating through the U.S. in spring, and 1 of every 4 birds migrating through the U.S. in the fall, or nearly two billion birds, passes through Texas in one of the planet’s great wildlife spectacles," the Audubon website says. "Unfortunately, light emanating from our cities can disorient birds, leaving them confused and vulnerable to urban threats like collisions with buildings."

Birdwatching for beginners in Austin
Austin is no stranger to this fun (and inexpensive) hobby, having been ranked one of the top 10 best cities for birding in 2023. The Travis Audubon Society is the best local resource for diving into the world of birdwatching, and its organizers host classes and field trips across all skill levels.

The nonprofit lists 25 different "permanent residents" that live in the Austin area year round, including mourning doves, inca doves, Carolina wrens, European starlings, house sparrows, northern cardinals, and many more.

Free apps like Merlin Bird ID and Audubon Bird Guide are handy tools for tech-savvy beginners to get acquainted with their local bird species. For those who prefer a physical field guide, Travis Audubon recommend David Allen Sibley's The Sibley Guide to Birds Second Edition. Enthusiasts who want to test their skills on a road trip would get good use out of The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, which also covers most areas of Texas.

Austinites can also make a day out of birdwatching by visiting Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory or Barton Creek Habitat Preserve. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department also has a thorough list of parks, sanctuaries, and habitats for finding birds around Austin, organized by geographic area.

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