New Orleans is the fastest-growing city in the US, the Census Bureau reports, but not fast enough to regain more than half of its size before Hurricane Katrina. Between July 2006 and July 2007, the Big Easy’s population jumped 13.8%, more than any other major city, the Times Picayune explains. But that still left it down 50% from its April 2000 levels.
“We aren't fast-growing," one New Orleans demographer said. "We're recovering. It's good people are coming back, but you can't put us in with Houston. Come on.” (More New Orleans stories.)