Boomburb is a neologism for a large, rapidly growing suburban city that remains essentially suburban in character even as it reaches populations more typical of urban core cities. Like edge city, an older and more widely accepted term, it describes a relatively recent phenomenon in North America. A neologism is a word, term, or phrase which has been recently created (coined) —often to apply to new concepts, or to reshape older terms in newer language form. ... Edge city is an American term for a relatively new concentration of business, shopping and entertainment outside a traditional urban area, in what had recently been a residential suburb or semi-rural community. ...

Definition

Boomburbs are defined as places with more than 100,000 residents that are not the largest city in their metropolitan areas and have maintained double-digit rates of population growth in recent decades. The United States currently contains 53 boomburbs, which accounted for over half (51 percent) of 1990s’ growth in cities with between 100,000 and 400,000 residents.

Boomburbs occur mostly in the Southwest, with almost half in California alone. Many boomburbs, especially in the West, are products of master-planned community development and the need to form large water districts. Las Vegas, with its expansive master-planned communities and desert surroundings, contains two Boomburbs. By contrast, no big region in the Northeast and Midwest, except Chicago, has a single boomburb. Even most large and rapidly growing Sunbelt metropolitan areas east of the Mississippi, such as Atlanta, lack Boomburbs due to their lack of incorporated suburban cities.

Where they Are

In the United States

Arizona: Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Scottsdale, Tempe Official language(s) English Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 6th 295,254 km² 500 km 645 km 0. ... Chandler is a city located in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 176,582. ... Gilbert is a town located in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. Gilbert was the fastest-growing incorporated place of over 100,000 people in the US from 1990 to 2000, as well as in the 2002, 2003, and 2004 Census estimates. ... Glendale is a city located in Maricopa County, Arizona. ... City of Mesa logo Mesa is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona. ... Peoria is a city located in Maricopa County, Arizona. ... Nickname: Beverly Hills of the Desert Motto: Official website: http://www. ... All-America City Program Logo Tempe (pronounced Tempee) is a city located in Maricopa County, Arizona. ...

California: Anaheim, Chula Vista, Corona, Costa Mesa, Daly City, Escondido, Fontana, Fremont, Fullerton, Irvine, Lancaster, Moreno Valley, Oceanside, Ontario, Orange, Oxnard, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Rosa, Simi Valley, Sunnyvale, Thousand Oaks Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 3rd 410,000 km² 402. ... Nickname: Motto: Official website: http://www. ... Chula Vista is a city located in San Diego County, California. ... Corona is a city located in Riverside County, California. ... Costa Mesa is a city located in Orange County, California. ... Daly City, known as the “Gateway to the Peninsula”, is located in San Mateo County, California, United States, directly south of San Francisco, California. ... Nickname: Motto: Official website: http://www. ... Fontana is a city located in San Bernardino County, California. ... Nickname: {{{nickname}}} Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: http://www. ... Nickname: Motto: Official website: http://www. ... Nickname: Motto: Official website: http://www. ... City nickname:The Heart of the Antelope Valley County Los Angeles County, California Area  - Total  - Water 243. ... County Riverside County, California Area  - Total  - Water 133. ... Nickname: Motto: Official website: http://www. ... Ontario Mills Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California. ... Motto: A Slice of Old Town Charm Nickname: Plaza City Map Political Statistics Founded 1869 Incorporated April 6, 1888 County Orange County, California Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor Mark Murphy Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Water 27. ... Skyline of Oxnard. ... Rancho Cucamonga is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. ... Riverside is the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States. ... San Bernardino is the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. ... Santa Ana is the largest city and the county seat of Orange County, California. ... Image:Santa Clarita City Limits. ... Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California. ... Simi Valley is an incorporated city located in the extreme southeast corner of Ventura County, California, bordering the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles in the Greater Los Angeles Area. ... Nickname: Motto: Official website: http://www. ... Thousand Oaks (commonly referred to by locals as T.O.) is a city located in Ventura County, California, named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned by the symbol of an oak. ...

Colorado: Aurora, Lakewood, Westminster Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 8th 269 837 km² 451 km 612 km 0. ... Nickname: The Gateway to the Rockies Motto: Official website: http://www. ... Lakewood is a city located in Jefferson County, Colorado. ... Westminster is a city located in both Adams County, Colorado and Jefferson County, Colorado. ...

Florida: Clearwater, Coral Springs, Hialeah, Pembroke Pines Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 22nd 170 451 km² 260 km 800 km 17. ... 1st incorporation date 1891 2nd Incorporation date 1915 Zip Codes 33755-65 County Pinellas (county seat) Mayor Frank Hibbard Population  - City (2004)  - Tampa Bay Metro   108,606 2,600,000 (estimate) Time zone Eastern: UTC-5 Latitude Longitude 27°58 N 82°46 W City of Clearwaters Official Website... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... City nickname: The City of Progress Location of the city proper in the state of Florida Founded 1925 County Miami-Dade County Mayor Raul L. Martinez (D) Area  - Total  - Water 51. ... Pembroke Pines is a city located in Broward County, Florida. ...

Illinois: Naperville Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 25th 149,998 km² 340 km 629 km 4. ... Naperville is a city located in DuPage County, Illinois and Will County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 128,358; a special census in 2003 estimated the population at 135,858. ...

Nevada: Henderson, North Las Vegas Official language(s) None Capital Carson City Largest city Las Vegas Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 7th 286,367 km² 519 km 788 km 0. ... Henderson is the fastest-growing large city (over 150,000 pop. ... North Las Vegas is a city located in Clark County, Nevada. ...

Oregon: Salem Official language(s) None Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 9th 255,026 km² 420 km 580 km 2. ... State Capitol building in Salem Salem (IPA: ) is the capital of the state of Oregon in the United States of America, and county seat of Marion County. ...

Texas: Arlington, Carrollton, Garland, Grand Prairie, Irving, Mesquite, Plano Official language(s) None. ... Nickname: none Motto: Official website: http://www. ... City nickname: none Location in the state of Texas Counties Collin County Dallas County Denton County Mayor Becky Miller Area   â€“Land   â€“Water 36. ... Garland is a suburb of Dallas, Texas, located in Dallas County, Texas. ... Grand Prairie is a city located in Dallas county, with a significant overlap into Tarrant, and a minor overlap into Ellis counties. ... Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. ... Mesquite is a suburb of Dallas, Texas, located in Dallas County and Kaufman County, Texas. ... Nickname: An All-American City Motto: Official website: http://www. ...

Utah: West Valley City Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 13th 219,887 km² 435 km 565 km 3. ... West Valley City is a city located in Salt Lake County in the state of Utah. ...

Virginia: Chesapeake Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 320 km 690 km 7. ... Chesapeake is an independent city located in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the United States. ...

Washington: Bellevue Official language(s) None Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 18th 184,824 km² 385 km 580 km 6. ... Nickname: Motto: Official website: http://www. ...

In Canada

British Columbia: Burnaby, Coquitlam, Richmond, Surrey Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Official languages English, French Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 36 6 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 5th 944,735 km² 925,186 km² 19,549... Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (49°16′N 122°58′W), is a city immediately east of Vancouver. ... Member of Parliament James Moore (City Centre / Westwood Plateau) (Conservative) Paul Forseth (Burquitlam) (Conservative) Member of the Legislative Assembly Diane Thorne (NDP) Mayor Maxine Wilson Councillors Kent Becker Fin Donnelly Louella Hollington Mae Reid Bill LeClair Barrie Lynch Lou Sekora Population (2005) 113,498 Immigrant Population 39,000 (35%) Languages... This page is for the city of Richmond, British Columbia. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = The City of Parks City of Surrey, British Columbia, Canadas Location. ...

Ontario: Brampton, Burlington, Cambridge, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Vaughan Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English, French (in some areas) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 106 24 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 4th... Motto: Welcomes you Area: 266. ... Burlington (2001 population 150,836)[1] is located in the Golden Horseshoe, across the Lake Ontario and Burlington Bay harbour from Hamilton, in Halton Region, Ontario, Canada. ... Map of the Region of Waterloo with Cambridge in red. ... Markham is a town in York Region, directly north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Pride in our past, Faith in our future City of Mississauga, Ontario, Canadas Location. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Avancez (from French meaning Advance). Town of Oakville, Ontario, Canadas Location. ... Richmond Hill (population 163,000 as of 2005) is a town in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Vaughan (2005 population 235,000)[1] is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

References

• Lang, Robert and Patrick Simmons (2001). "Boomburbs: The Emergence of Large, Fast-Growing Suburban Cities in the United States." Fannie Mae Foundation Census Note 06.
• Lang, Robert (2003). "Are the Boomburbs Still Booming?" Fannie Mae Foundation Census Note 15.
• Knox, Paul and Linda McCarthy (2005). Urbanization: An Introduction to Urban Geography. Pearson/Prentice Hall. Second Edition. pp. 163, 164, 560.
• Hayden, Dolores (2004). A Field Guide to Sprawl. W.W. Norton & Company. pp. 26-27, 118.

External links

• Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech
• Planetizen: "Is Anaheim the New Brooklyn? " by Robert E. Lang and Jennifer LeFurgy