r/dataisbeautiful • u/TA-MajestyPalm • 4d ago

OC [OC] Post-Pandemic Population Growth Trends, by US Metro Area (2022->2024)

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Graphic by me, created in Excel. All data from US Census here: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html

I've created similar graphics in the past, but usually from 2020-2024. This is not the best time frame as it combines the abnormal covid years with post pandemic movement.

This time frame (2022-2024) shows the most current and ongoing population trends of the last 2 years.

I also wanted to better categorize the cities into broad cultural regions vs the arbitrary geographic census regions.

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u/Waste_Molasses_936 3d ago

No wonder I-4 has gone from bad to abysmal since 2020. What used to take 1.5 hours from Tampa to Orland for the last 30 years is now: 1.5 hours to ???? at any time of day

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u/IBJON 3d ago

It doesn't help that they can't seem to figure out that section between sand lake and Disney. It doesn't matter what time of day it is, it's always backed up for miles for seemingly no reason.

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u/elboberto 3d ago

No reason? The reason is 100,000 people moved out there to the middle of nowhere and their only path to civilization is I-4. Going to work? I-4. Groceries? I-4. Visiting friends? I-4. Taking kids to school? I-4.

Poor planning and no infrastructure.

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u/RedNuii 2d ago

Just add a couple more lanes, I’m sure that will fix it

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u/IBJON 3d ago

This isn't the middle of nowhere. This is a stretch of highway between Disney and Universal. Traffic moves pretty smoothly elsewhere in I4, assuming there're no accidents, but as soon as you hit this particular stretch, it just comes to a standstill.

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u/elboberto 3d ago

That’s the spot where 528 merges onto i4.