Sun Belt

A road trip to find the next big Texan metropolis

Texas’ “Big 4” metro areas—Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio—have all exploded with growth. Will a fifth emerge?

What is it about Plano?

We couldn’t help but notice that the suburb north of Dallas consistently ranks high on many of those “best cities for (fill in the blank)” lists we see so often. What is Plano’s secret?

Big-city planners shouldn’t overlook the lessons of small-town design

Influenced by the Garden City movement, Badin, North Carolina, is a small gem of urban planning whose design called for green space, residential areas and commercial development in proportionate amounts. The planning of small towns like Badin can serve as an example for larger cities as they continue to grow.

The education—and miseducation—of an urban planner

James Rojas has spent the better part of his career reconciling his formal training with his lived experience as a Gay Chicano.

The Urban Sun Belt: An Overview

This report documents the unique set of urban challenges Sun Belt Cities face.

Urban Review: Midterms, Midterms and More Midterms

In case you can't get enough, we've got several looks at what the midterm results mean for transit and housing, a shifting suburban voter profile and more.

Large Sun Belt Metro Areas Continue To Drive Growth

Just four metro areas saw 16 percent of the country's population growth since 2010. Despite a slowdown in 2017, Houston was one of them.

Urban Review: Unequal Voting Lines, Transit-Oriented Development and Fare Evasion

This week, uneven wait times at polling places, mixed results for transit-oriented development in Los Angeles and more.

Compare Cities Side by Side With New Tool

The Urban Observatory creates maps from a variety of data sources.

Why Car-Crazy Cities Are Now Riding the Rails

With new demands for housing and activities downtown, Sun Belt metropolises are rethinking how their residents get around.