Boom Towns

2 Dallas suburbs top list of the fastest growing cities in America

This little town is one of the two fastest growing cities in the U.S.

Photo by Roger Robinson/Visit Frisco

Loads of people are moving to Texas and a new report proves that's true, especially in two suburbs of Dallas.

Called “Top U.S. Cities Leading in Population Growth,” the study ranks 25 cities across the U.S., and two DFW cities made the top 10: Frisco and McKinney.

The study, from an online casino site called Casino of the Kings, analyzed U.S. cities with the fastest development to identify the ones that have the biggest population growth.

Nine metrics were used, including infrastructure investments (economic and neighborhood development), housing development, job growth rate, and unemployment rate.

Two surprising cities hit the top two slots: Goodyear, Arizona came in at No. 1 with a population increase of 42.02 percent; and St. George, Utah came in at No. 2.

Frisco rankedat No. 3 in the study due to its 22.2 percent population growth over the past five years, growing from 188,170 residents in 2019 to 229,846 in 2024. The city has the second biggest infrastructure investments, which pulled in $120 million, trailing only behind Goodyear Arizona’s $232 million.

Frisco saw 36.8 new houses built per 1000 existing homes. Jobs increased in the city at a rate of 4.5 percent, and unemployment is at 3.2 percent.

McKinney ranked at No. 4, with a population growth increas of 18.7 percent over the past five years: from 191,645 in 2019 to 227,567 in 2024. The city welcomed infrastructure investments of $100 million.

The city saw 35.3 new houses built per 1000 existing homes. Job growth in the city is up by 4.5 percent.

According to the study, McKinney has a 3 percent unemployment rate, the lowest amongst all Texas cities in the ranking.

In other Texas cities, Conroe took 7th place, with a population increase of 22.75 percent and the second-highest investments per person at $673.36. Infrastructure investments totaled $75 million.

League City, Texas, ranked 8th, with a population growth rate of 19.9 percent. Jobs in the city grew by 3.2 percent, and unemployment in League City was one of the lowest in the list, amounting to 3.1 percent.

The top 10 fastest-growing U.S. cities are:

No. 1 – Goodyear, Arizona
No. 2 – St. George, Utah
No. 3 – Frisco, Texas
No. 4 – McKinney, Texas
No. 5 – Meridian, Idaho
No. 6 – Nampa, Idaho
No. 7 – Conroe, Texas
No. 8 – League City, Texas
No. 9 – Port St. Lucie, Florida
No. 10 – Buckeye, Arizona

The full report and its methodology can be found on Casino of the Kings.

RIP Pete

Dallas businessman and former Schepps Dairy owner Pete Schenkel dies

Courtesy photo

Pete Schenkel

Dallas businessman Pete Schenkel, a philanthropist and former owner of Dallas-based Schepps Dairy, passed away at his Highland Park home on November 27 while in hospice care.

Born and raised in South Dallas where he worked on his father's dairy farm, Schenkel worked his way up from a Schepps Dairy deliverer to become an owner of the company in 1987. He went on to serve as President and owner of Southern Foods, which later sold to Suiza Foods and became Dean Foods, for which he also served as president and board member.

A statement from the city of Dallas says that Schenkel "leaves a legacy where he will be remembered for sharing his success with others and for his steadfast commitment to serve with pride and humility. Pete was unwavering in his dedication to making Dallas one of the safest large cities in the United States and was instrumental in promoting our economic growth and social vibrancy. We will strive to carry on his legacy by continuing to make Dallas a better place for all."

Founded by Harmon "Hymie" Schepps in 1942, Schepps Dairy traded hands and emerged from a bankruptcy under the primary ownership of Schenkel, who was Schepps' business partner. In 2000, the company was acquired by Suiza Foods Co., which then merged with Dallas-based Dean Foods the following year.

Schenkel was also involved in Dallas politics from the '80s to the '00s, both with sought-after endorsements as well as working on campaigns for mayoral candidates such as Jack Evans and Ron Natinsky.

In 2017, he was honored with an award from the NFF Gridiron Club for his role in helping bring football back to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. He fought to keep the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game at Cotton Bowl Stadium and has been the key negotiator in keeping the game there ever since.

Schenkel served on many influential boards that helped shape Dallas and North Texas, including chairing the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors and the Methodist Health Care Foundation. After retiringm he remained active in nonprofit circles, helping direct a charitable fund with his wife, the Pat and Pete Schenkel Charitable Trust. He also served on the board of the Dallas Blue Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families of Dallas police officers killed or wounded in action.

His multiple awards and commendations including receiving the 82nd annual Linz Award for civic service in Dallas in 2011, as well as a Russell H. Perry Award from Dallas Baptist University, which lauded Schenkel for adhering to the highest ethical standards and being loyal to and respectful of friends and customers, as well as his modesty, shying away from the spotlight and shining it on others instead.

He's survived by his wife Pat, three children and seven grandchildren.

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