Surprise, surprise! North Texas counties again among nation’s fastest growing

North Texas counties are among the fastest growing in the country, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data.

After Maricopa County, Arizona, and Harris County, Collin and Denton counties added the most people of any county nationwide.

In numeric growth, these Texas counties were among the top 10 in the nation:

  • Harris County (2), 45,626

  • Collin County (3), 44,246

  • Denton County (4), 33,424

  • Fort Bend County (7), 29,022

  • Bexar County (9), 28,635

  • Montgomery County (10), 28,229

In total, these counties gained a combined 209,182 residents, said the Census Bureau.

These five Texas counties had the biggest percentage increases:

  • Kaufman County (2), 8.9%

  • Rockwall County (6), 5.7%

  • Parker County (8), 5.6%

  • Comal County (9), 5.6%

  • Chambers County (10), 5.3%

The growth is caused by domestic migration, international migration and natural increase -- when births exceed deaths.

Only about 25% of American counties experienced a natural population increase. Of the 10 counties with the most natural population growth, five were in Texas.