Seattle is America’s fastest growing big city

The Census Bureau estimates Seattle grew faster than any other major American city in the past year, a 2.8 percent rate, adding nearly 18,000 residents to bring the population to about 652,000.

The Seattle Times reports the new population estimate ranks Seattle as the nation’s 21st biggest city.

The new Census data also show the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area added 57,000 people and remains the nation’s 15th-largest metro area, with 3.61 million residents.

Tom Tangney points out the second fastest growing city in the state is Sammamish. However, John Curley, a former Sammmish City Councilmember, argues that’s likely due to recent annexations of surrounding neighborhoods.

“There’s a little Putin there in Sammamish,” laughs Tangney.

But seriously, John says there’s now debate about when are there too many people living in Sammamish. “That’s the definition of overpopulation: just enough of me and too much of you. So I don’t know if Seattle gets to that point where people feel there are too many people here.”

Or Seattleites will have kids and move east for the schools. Curley says people head to the Eastside because the schools are much better.

“People move to Sammamish because we have Inglewood, Samantha Smith, Margaret Mead, Rachel Carson – they’re normally in the top 10 or top 12. And that’s why people move there.”

Washington’s population grew by 76,000 and is estimated at 6.97 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.