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If it seems like rush hour is getting worse, it's not your imagination. Fort Worth saw the largest numeric population gain of any U.S. city in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's latest findings.

From July 2021 to July 2022, Fort Worth added 19,170 new residents, bringing its total population to 956,709.

Fort Worth is the 13th largest city in the country by population, the bureau says. By comparison, Dallas (population just under 1.3 million) is the ninth largest.

Together, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked No. 4 in the list of the 10 most populous U.S. metro areas (as opposed to the cities, themselves). Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ranked No. 5.

Texas cities and towns dominated every list in the new Census Bureau report. "Texas was the only state that had more than three cities on both the 15 fastest-growing large cities and towns by numeric change and by percent change lists," the report says.

Fastest-growing cities
Six out of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the United States are in Texas, and with one Dallas suburb - Little Elm - zooming up to No. 5. Little Elm had an 8 percent population increase from July 2021 to July 2022, bringing the city's total population to more than 55,300 residents.

The north Austin suburb of Georgetown had the highest growth rate in the nation, at 14.4 percent, bringing the city's total population to more than 86,500 residents. Surrounding Austin suburbs Kyle and Leander landed in No. 3 and No. 4 with the same population growth rate of 10.9 percent. Two more Texas cities, Conroe and New Braunfels, landed in the top 15.

The top 10 fastest-growing large cities in the U.S. are:

  • No. 1 – Georgetown, Texas
  • No. 2 – Santa Cruz, California
  • No. 3 – Kyle, Texas
  • No. 4 – Leander, Texas
  • No. 5 – Little Elm, Texas
  • No. 6 – Westfield, Indiana
  • No. 7 – Queen Creek, Arizona
  • No. 8 – North Port, Florida
  • No. 9 – Cape Coral, Florida
  • No. 10 – Port St. Lucie, Florida
Largest population increases
While Fort Worth landed on top of the 15 U.S. cities with the largest numeric population increases, two neighbors also made the list. Dallas and Frisco ranked No. 13 and No. 15, adding 8,833 and 8,506 new residents, respectively.

When it comes to most populous cities overall, Texas takes five of the 15 top spots. In addition to Dallas (No. 9) and Fort Worth (No. 13) Houston came in No. 4 with its population of over 2.3 million, San Antonio at No. 7 with over 1.47 million residents, and Austin, at No. 10 with 974,447 residents.

The top 15 most populous American cities are:

  • No. 1 – New York City, New York
  • No. 2 – Los Angeles, California
  • No. 3 – Chicago, Illinois
  • No. 4 – Houston, Texas
  • No. 5 – Phoenix, Arizona
  • No. 6 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • No. 7 – San Antonio, Texas
  • No. 8 – San Diego, California
  • No. 9 – Dallas, Texas
  • No. 10 – Austin, Texas
  • No. 11 - Jacksonville, Florida
  • No. 12 - San Jose, California
  • No. 13 - Fort Worth, Texas
  • No. 14 - Columbus, Ohio
  • No. 15 - Charlotte, North Carolina

The report also discovered that housing inventory skyrocketed by 1.6 million units between 2021 and 2022. Texas had the third fastest housing growth with a rate of 2.3 percent, versus Utah, which had the fastest growth at 3.3 percent. Two Texas counties had the highest numeric gains for housing units in the nation: Harris (No. 1) and Travis (No. 3).

The full report can be found on census.gov.

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'Yellowstone' stars to greet fans at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Yellowstone news

Yellowstone fans, get your comfy shoes ready - there'll be a long line for this one. Cole Hauser a.k.a. "Rip Wheeler" on Yellowstone, and Taylor Sheridan, the show's co-creator, executive producer, and director of the series, will meet fans and sign autographs at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

The event will take place from 4:30-6:30 pm only on Friday, February 3. Location is the 6666 Ranch booth near the south end of Aisle 700 in the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall.

According to a February 2 announcement from FWSSR, "fans will have the opportunity to snag an autograph as well as purchase some distinctive Yellowstone and 6666 Ranch merchandise while also enjoying all the features the Stock Show offers."

The event is free to attend (with paid Stock Show admission) and open to the public.

It's the second year in a row for Hauser to appear at FWSSR; in 2022, he and fellow cast mates drew huge crowds.

Sheridan, a Paschal High School graduate, is no stranger to Fort Worth; he lives in a ranch near Weatherford and filmed 1883, the prequel to Yellowstone, in and around Fort Worth. Currently, another spinoff, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, is filming in North Texas.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is winding up its 2023 run on Saturday, February 4.

Holiday sensation Lightscape returns to Fort Worth for 2023 with new displays and pricing

Planning ahead for the holidays

Fort Worth's biggest holiday sensation of 2022 is coming back for a second year, promising to be even better than the first: Lightscape walk-through holiday lights experience will return to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, November 17, 2023-January 1, 2024.

Tickets are on sale now for FWBG members and go on sale to the general public Friday, June 9, according to a release.

The 2023 edition is being "reimagined" with 80 percent newly designed displays, organizers say. The popular Winter Cathedral and Bluebonnet displays will return.

“You may think you’ve seen Lightscape, but you’ve never seen this Lightscape," says Patrick Newman, CEO and president of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, in the release. “This is a celebration of the holiday spirit and a way for families and friends to come together to create a new holiday tradition with long-lasting memories – we like to call them emotional souvenirs.”

There's also new pricing for 2023, set based on feedback from the first year, Newman says. Although ticket prices are not yet available on the FWBG's website, organizers tease in the release that they just might be cheaper. (Admission for 2022 ran $28-$30 for adults and $18-$20 for children ages 3-12. FWBG members received $5 off of each ticket. Prices did not include parking, which ran $15-$20.)

According to the release, off-peak tickets for 2023 will be as low as $15 for adult members of the FWBG. Guests also can purchase an "Anytime Access" ticket that includes parking, flexible arrival times, and a dedicated check-in line, they say, although pricing is not yet available.

“This year members receive a deeper discount with $8 off each ticket, a great incentive for attending Lightscape at a lower price while also receiving free year-round Garden admission,” Newman says.

Lightscape, produced by the Fort Worth Botanic Garden in association with Sony Music and Culture Creative, made its North Texas debut in November 2022 and immediately attracted sell-out crowds as the most Instagrammable holiday experience in DFW.

The event immersed visitors in more than a mile of holiday light and music displays incorporated into the natural landscape of the garden.

A CultureMap review of the experience said, "What makes Lightscape different from other modern Christmas light attractions is that it’s not a constant, over-the-top, bombastic blast of LEDs. There are high-lights and low-lights, moments of razzle dazzle and moments of quiet contemplation. Parts are whimsical, parts are worshipful."

Lightscape creators aim to build on the success of last year’s inaugural show, organizers say, and are hard at work on new displays created exclusively for Fort Worth.

Fort Worth's Alliance Air Show canceled after 32 years

An Institution is Gone

The AllianceTexas Aviation Expo - formerly known as the Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show - will not take place in 2023, and perhaps not ever again, according to release issued by Alliance Air Productions on June 7.

A tradition for 32 years, the show has long been regarded as one of the best in the nation. Over the years, it has showcased the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Navy Blue Angels, and other airplane demonstration teams, as well as parachutists, stunt pilots, and more.

The release was light on details behind the reason for the cancellation, but indicated that the growth of the Alliance region of Fort Worth - where the event took place - played a part.

"Largely as a result of that growth and due to unavoidable conflicts in scheduling and logistics, Alliance Air Productions will not host the AllianceTexas Aviation Expo in 2023," the release states. "We completely understand and are sensitive to the disappointment of the many loyal and dedicated sponsors, volunteers, and fans.

"We remain committed to the goals of bringing family entertainment to North Texas, supporting local communities, and opening doors to various career paths in aviation and aerospace. Please know that plans for future events are being evaluated."

The annual event took place on the third or fourth weekend in October at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Its name was changed from the Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show to AllianceTexas Aviation Expo in 2022.

CultureMap has reached out to organizers for more details, including whether it might come back.