Harris ranked third most populous county in 2018 by Census

Harris County and the city of Houston are working to ensure a complete count of residents for the 2020 census. Harris County and the city of Houston are working to ensure a complete count of residents for the 2020 census. Photo: Yvette Orozco Photo: Yvette Orozco Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Harris ranked third most populous county in 2018 by Census 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Harris County was ranked the third most populous county in the nation in 2018 according to new Census population estimates. The Houston metropolitan area alone reported a numeric growth of 1 million between 2010 and 2018.

Across the United States, population growth in counties between 2010 and 2018 was concentrated in the south and west. Metro areas not among the nation’s most populous also saw growth, according to Sandra Johnson, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division.

“Though no new metro areas moved into the Top 10 largest areas, Phoenix, Seattle, Austin, and Orlando all experienced numeric increases in population since 2010, rivaling growth in areas with much larger populations,” Johnson said.

Harris County, with an estimated population of about 4.7 million is behind only Los Angeles County in California and Cook County (which includes Chicago) in Illinois.

Midland, Texas, with an estimated population of more than 178,000, reported the highest percentage growth for a metro area between 2017 and 2018 with 4.3 percent in growth.

RELATED: Texas, Spring earn high spots on U-Haul destination lists

Between 2010 and 2018, Harris, Tarrant, Bexar and Dallas counties in Texas ranked among the Top 10 counties experiencing numeric growth. Census calculates growth by both population numbers and percentage changes. Harris County took the lead with more than half a million people added to its population during that time. Between 2017 and 2018, Harris County’s population grew by more than 34,000.

In terms of the highest percentage growth experienced in a county with more than 20,000 people between 2010 and 2018, Fort Bend County ranked in 10th place with 34.7 percent in growth.

The new Census report also noted that all metro areas in Puerto Rico decreased in population between 2017 and 2018. The island was devastated in 2017 by Hurricane Maria, leading to mass migration to the mainland.

Other reports have noted earlier this year that Texas’s overall population has been growing with more migration from other states, including California. Updates on Houston’s detailed population changes by 2018 will be available later this year.