San Antonio might quickly grow to be the nation’s sixth-largest metropolis within the nation, U.S. Census knowledge reveals.
That’s as a result of the Alamo Metropolis’s burgeoning development is unmatched by the comparatively stagnant inhabitants of Philadelphia, which presently holds the sixth spot.
And upon listening to that information, the Philadelphia Inquirer is seemingly having a meltdown.
In an article printed Thursday, the paper accused San Antonio of coming for its spot by “questionable strategies” — specifically, by annexing territory.
As of July 2025, the Census Bureau estimated Philly’s inhabitants at 1,574,281 and San Antonio’s at 1,548,422 — a distinction of roughly 26,000 residents. That span has narrowed quickly since 2020, when it was roughly 162,000.
“They’re growing the sq. footage of town over time, which does enhance, typically, the inhabitants,” Katie Martin, lead researcher on the Pew Charitable Belief’s Philadelphia analysis and coverage initiative, instructed the Inquirer. Martin added that Philadelphia has been “the identical metropolis now we have been for 150 years.”
The Inquirer defined that “[w]hile Philadelphia leverages its old-school appeal (brick facades), putting attractiveness (public artwork) and alluring persona (locals identified for his or her gruff exteriors however tender interiors) to draw new residents and hold present ones sticking round, San Antonio has been incorporating the demographic equal of steroids.”
Does Philly actually need to go to conflict with the Alamo Metropolis?
Based on the Philadelphia Inquirer, solely Philly has old-school appeal, public artwork and locals that at greatest are characterised by the paper as good “when you get to know them.”
Inform me you haven’t been to San Antonio with out telling me you haven’t been to San Antonio.
Philly could be the “birthplace of America” however that is the Alamo Metropolis, the place historic neighborhoods corresponding to King William have homes greater than a century previous that ooze Victorian appeal with their stately columns and wraparound porches.
San Antonio additionally has some of the strong public artwork applications within the state, celebrating its colourful Mexican American heritage with murals as vibrant as its individuals.
Additionally, our locals are literally good, versus Philly’s, who sound extra like an acquired style. Which is why we’re persistently ranked one of many friendliest cities in Texas.
All of those elements could also be why San Antonio was the nation’s third most moved-to metropolis in 2025, which means our inhabitants growth isn’t purely annexation.
Seems, we’re a draw too.
Annexation is an actual apply that’s been employed by the Metropolis of San Antonio, to the protest of some within the surrounding space who don’t need to be included into metropolis bounds.
So, the Inquirer’s characterization of San Antonio’s inhabitants explosion as ill-gotten by controversial means is correct. It simply doesn’t inform the entire story.
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