Raleigh has made the most impressive climb since 2000 in the population rankings of metropolitan areas, according to estimates released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Buffalo and New Orleans, on the other hand, have suffered the sharpest declines.
The Census Bureau released population estimates for all 940 metropolitan and micropolitan areas across the country on Tuesday. The figures do not come from the decennial census that is presently underway, but reflect the population situation as of July 1, 2009.
For the new estimates for all U.S. metros and micros, go to buffalo.bizjournals.com.
North Carolina's Raleigh-Cary metro, which ranked 59th in 2000, is 49th in the new standings. Its rise of 10 places in nine years is the biggest gain registered by any metro in the current top 50.
Buffalo was 42nd in 2000, but is 50th now, a drop of eight places. New Orleans has also dropped eight places since the turn of the century -- from 38th to 46th.
Other big gainers during the past decade were Las Vegas (up six places), Austin and Jacksonville (both up five) and Charlotte (up four).
Other significant declines occurred in Providence, which fell five places, and Milwaukee, which dropped four.
