Fort Worth officially becomes one of the 10 largest cities in America after major population surge

Fort Worth, Texas – Fort Worth has officially climbed into the list of the 10 largest cities in the United States after surpassing the population of Jacksonville, according to newly released estimates from the United States Census Bureau.

The latest population figures show Fort Worth reached 1,028,117 residents as of July 2025, moving the city into the No. 10 spot nationally.

The milestone places Fort Worth behind only Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas among Texas cities, keeping it as the fourth-largest city in the state.

Federal estimates show Fort Worth now exceeds Jacksonville’s population by more than 10,000 residents.

City leaders celebrated the achievement while also emphasizing the growing responsibility that comes with managing rapid expansion.

“Fort Worth is booming for the right reasons,” said Mayor Mattie Parker. “As we celebrate our top 10 ranking, it’s more important than ever that we continue to lead with smart policies, smart investments and smart planning to ensure the city we love thrives long into the future.”

Fort Worth Among Nation’s Fastest Growing Major Cities

The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates also showed Fort Worth experienced one of the largest population increases in the country between July 2024 and July 2025.

According to the data, Fort Worth added 19,512 new residents during that one-year span, giving it the second-largest numeric increase nationwide behind only Charlotte.

Federal statisticians noted that Fort Worth stood out at a time when many other major U.S. cities experienced slower growth or even slight population declines.

Matt Erickson of the Census Bureau’s Population Division said some of the largest slowdowns occurred in Northeastern cities.

Meanwhile, Texas continued dominating national growth trends.

Officials pointed out that the five fastest-growing cities in the country with populations over 20,000 were all located in Texas.

Four of those communities were clustered around the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area, while another was located near Houston.

Celina, located north of Dallas, recorded the fastest growth rate in the nation with an increase of 24.6%.

Fort Worth City Manager Jay Chapa said the city’s rise did not happen by accident.

“Substantial growth like we’re seeing in Fort Worth doesn’t just happen,” Chapa said. “The City of Fort Worth is extremely fortunate because over several decades we have been led by public servants who prioritize fiscal discipline, continuous improvement of our City services, and a focus on delivering a high quality of life for our residents.”

He added that the new ranking should serve as a reminder that city leaders must continue carefully guiding future growth.

“Being among the top 10 largest cities is an important reminder to all of us that our work matters, and we have a responsibility to continue stewarding this phenomenal growth into the future,” Chapa said.

Growth Brings New Challenges For City Leaders

The Census Bureau’s rankings show New York City remains the nation’s largest city with more than 8.5 million residents, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago.

Fort Worth now sits directly ahead of Jacksonville and just behind Dallas, which has approximately 1.3 million residents.

City officials said the growing population will affect future decisions involving infrastructure, budgeting, public services, and development planning.

Christianne Simmons said the city’s rapid growth also creates increasingly difficult planning challenges.

“Our Top 10 ranking reflects not just growth, but increased complexity.” Simmons said. “As Fort Worth becomes a bigger city, the questions get tougher – questions about infrastructure, public services and how to make limited dollars go further.”

Simmons explained that the city’s FWLab initiative and planning teams will continue using data-driven analysis to help leaders determine where additional investments and resources may be needed.

Officials said Fort Worth’s continuing population growth is being fueled by several factors, including Texas’ strong economy, business-friendly environment, lower cost of living compared to many large cities, and the city’s increasing appeal as a place to live and work.

The Census Bureau noted that annual population estimates are calculated using birth rates, deaths, and both domestic and international migration patterns to track changes across cities, states, and metropolitan areas throughout the country.