Census Confirms Ominous Trend

The latest US Census data released today confirms a growing trend. People are continuing a slow but steady exodus from T-Town. Here is the data:

2000: 392,839
2001: 391,892
2002: 390,884
2003: 387,560
2004: 383,380
2005: 382,457

Tulsa's population has declined every year since the 2000 census. In fact, our population has declined by 2.7% in the past five years. Over that same period, three of Tulsa's suburbs, Bixby, Jenks and Owasso had the highest percentage growth rate in the state of Oklahoma over the same 5 year period. By the way, Broken Arrow, Catoosa and Claremore all had substantial gains over the period.

Oklahoma City had a respectable 5% gain over the period.

Tulsa is still far and away the 2nd largest city in Oklahoma and that doesn't look like it will change anytime soon.

Let's face it, the prospect of a longer commute time to work is more than offset by the lack of the hastle factor in the suburbs. By hastle factor, I mean Tulsa's deteriorating streets, undermanned police force, high crime, dismal public schools, empty houses, increased homicides, decreasing property values, high property taxes, too many stop signs/lights, and so on.

Tulsa is aging. It is more and more a city of the elderly and of the minority. Sadly, many from both of these camps are just not the type to roll up their sleeves and turn things around. The majority of those people are now firmly entrenched in our suburbs, making them a better place to live.

Tulsa is dying on the vine.

Tulsa was once the Oil Capital of the World.
Tulsa was once America's most liveable city.

How would you describe Tulsa today?