Summary
Rural areas across the U.S. are transforming as affordable housing shortages push people further from urban centers.
Celina, Texas, leads this trend, experiencing a 27% population surge in 2023 alone. It grew from 7,000 residents a decade ago to over 43,000, as reported by the Census.
Lower housing costs and available land attract newcomers, but rapid growth is replacing farmland and small-town traditions with dense developments and chain stores.
While some welcome affordable lifestyles and opportunities, others face rising costs, loss of community, and strained infrastructure.
That was already a thing for them in Texas. They’re arguably much less isolated now but either way everyone still needs a car.
That’s certainly true of most everywhere in America.
I would suggest that instead of running yet another highway through a city centre, the money be spent on buses, or something cheaper than roads - tram lines. Trams could connect these island-esque neighbourhoods and be a boon to the young and the old alike.
Even in a place like Texas, transit could alleviate that feeling that everyone still needs a car.