2010 Best-Performing Cities - 200 Largest Metros

2010 Best-Performing Cities - 200 Largest Metros

Wow. Just look at how well the regions metropolitan areas performed on Milken's list of Best Performing Cities for 2010. Houston is #10 for largest metros, and Lafayette, LA just missed the top 10 (#11).

Other cities performed very well, especially considering that the Gulf Coast is supposed to be such a poor region.

What Exactly Is the Gulf Coast Mega Region?

This is the definition of the Gulf Coast Mega region according to the website http://www.america2050.org/.


Despite its strong cultural traditions, the Gulf Coast as a continuous megaregion lacks the political cohesion of the nearby Texas Triangle.  However, the recent devastation from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the resulting displacement of hurricane victims along the I-10 corridor highlighted the environmental, transportation, and economic links of the Gulf Coast.  Despite the recent devastation, the region is expected to grow due to the continued in-migration of retirees from the Midwest.

Location: The Gulf Coast - Including parts of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle
Principal Cities: Houston, New Orleans, Baton Rouge
Population 2000: 11,747,587
Percent of U.S. Population: 4%
Population 2025: 15,832,117
Projected Growth: 35%
2005 GDP: $524,122,000,000
Percent of US GDP: 4%