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Phoenix – According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, Queen Creek has grown faster than any other Arizona region in the past year and ranks among the top 15 nations in terms of population growth.

The figures, released on May 18, cover the period from 1 July 2021 to 1 July 2022 and ranks the “major cities” with 50,000 or more inhabitants.

Queen Creek’s population increased from 66,318 to 70,734, a 6.7% increase.

Much of the content of the new national report is not surprising. Rapidly growing communities tend to be on the edge of existing cities. And most of them are on the edge of the South or West and other metropolitan areas.

Maricopa, for example, had a recent population of 66,290, up 6.2% from the previous year, closely behind Queen Creek.

A few decades ago, it was communities like Glendale and Mesa that grew by leaps and bounds. These communities quickly filled up.

At the same time, additional highways were built, widened and extended. And this has reduced commute times to acceptable levels for those who need to travel to major cities for work, encouraging them to live further afield.

Queen Creek proves that point.

The state, funded mostly by county tax dollars, not only completed the 202 loop into the Southeast Valley, but is also currently constructing State Route 24, one mile from 202 to Pinal County. , is extended.

And that’s just the beginning. A new budget signed by Governor Katie Hobbs earlier this month gives the city of Queen Creek $87.5 million for further expansion of SR 24, including the Ironwood Road transit interchange.

Other communities in and around the periphery of the Phoenix area also saw significant year-over-year population growth, including a 4.6% increase at Casa Grande, a 3.8% increase at Goodyear, and a similar increase in the adjacent Buckeye.

We invite our readers to submit their public opinion, pro or con, on this issue. Send an email to AZOpinions@iniusa.org.