2012 county & metro area estimates released today

[LastVoter]

The ten fastest-growing counties with a population over 10,000 and the likely reason for their growth were:
10) Franklin County, WA (Pasco)  - Tri-Cities area has been growing

All but Franklin County experienced double-digit growth.  Williams County, ND grew by almost 20%.

The growth in the Tri-Cities has been decidedly eastward (away from Hanford), and part of the Urbanized Area extends into Walla Walla County.    In 1980 the Tri-Cities were Richland 34K, Kennewick 34K, and Pasco 17K.  Pasco wasn't really a city, and it was a stretch to call it "Tri-"

In 2010, it was Kennewick 73K, Pasco 59K, and Richland 48K.

That's oversimplified, as a former resident of that area, I expect faster growth in Benton county rather than Franklin county for the rest of this decade.

[LastVoter]

They added Benton County MS to the Memphis metro. That decision belongs in the deluge. It's an hour outside of town and at least a half hour beyond any signs of civilization. We're not Atlanta. People don't commute across three counties here.

Actually they do, there are lots of dumb exurban dwellers everywhere in America, although some of the colder climates penalize such behavior in winter to a certain degree.