Alright, y’all, gather ’round because we’ve got some Texas-sized fun to unpack! You might’ve heard the whispers, the rumors swirling like a dust devil in West Texas: Fort Worth might’ve just tiptoed past Austin in the population race. Yep, in 2024, according to the Texas Demographic Center, Fort Worth nudged ahead, becoming the fourth largest city in the Lone Star State. It’s a close call, tighter than a pair of Wranglers after a Thanksgiving feast, but a win’s a win, right?
So, to celebrate this momentous occasion (and because I had way too much coffee this morning), I’ve decided to tackle a burning question: just how big are these Texas towns and cities? And what better way to visualize their size than by comparing them to the capacity of Austin’s iconic venues? Think of it as a Texas-sized game of Tetris, but with cities instead of blocks and concert halls instead of the screen.
Visualizing Texas Through Austin’s Venues
Imagine cramming the entire population of Waco (estimated around 140,000) into the Moody Center. Moody Center. Home to UT basketball and some seriously big-name concerts. Could you picture it? It’d be a packed house, that’s for sure. And that’s just Waco! Think about squeezing Houston into, say, the Circuit of the Americas! Okay, maybe not. But this mental exercise gives you a sense of the sheer scale of Texas.
Here’s a fun little thought experiment: picture trying to fit the entire population of Lubbock (around 260,000) into the Frank Erwin Center. Frank Erwin Center, the “Drum,” a legendary venue for basketball, concerts, and everything in between. It’d be standing room only, folks, and you’d probably be sharing personal space with a few armadillos. (Hey, it’s Texas, anything is possible.)
Speaking of packed venues and personal space… this reminds me of a time I went to see a Willie Nelson concert at the Backyard (RIP, legendary venue!). It was a scorcher of a day, hotter than a jalapeño in July. The place was overflowing, and I ended up squeezed between a guy who knew all the words to every Willie song (and sang them loudly) and a woman who kept offering me homemade pickles. Now, I love pickles as much as the next Texan, but in that heat, crammed like a sardine in a tin can… well, let’s just say it was an experience. I’m pretty sure I lost about five pounds in sweat alone.
Another time, I was at a UT football game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. DKR. A cathedral of college football. Over 100,000 strong. Now, I’d managed to score some pretty sweet seats, right on the 50-yard line. The problem? I was stuck behind a guy wearing a ten-gallon hat the size of a small satellite dish. I couldn’t see a darn thing! I spent most of the first half craning my neck, trying to catch glimpses of the action between the brim and the crown of his hat. Finally, during halftime, I mustered up the courage to tap him on the shoulder and politely ask if he could maybe, just maybe, tilt his hat a smidge. He looked down at me, grinned, and said, “Son, this hat’s part of the game-day experience!” I resigned myself to watching the rest of the game on the jumbotron.
From Small Towns to Big Cities: A Texas-Sized Comparison
So, back to the population game. While Fort Worth might have edged out Austin this year, the population landscape of Texas is constantly shifting. These cities are dynamic, growing and evolving faster than a tumbleweed in a West Texas windstorm. It’s a testament to the vibrant spirit and enduring appeal of the Lone Star State.
Whether you’re in a bustling metropolis like Houston or a charming small town like Marfa, there’s a unique energy that permeates every corner of Texas. And while comparing city populations to venue capacities might seem like a silly exercise, it helps us appreciate the incredible diversity and sheer scale of this amazing state. So, next time you’re at a concert or a sporting event, take a moment to look around and imagine fitting an entire Texas town into the venue. It’s a fun thought, and it just might give you a new appreciation for the vastness of the Lone Star State.
And remember, folks, everything’s bigger in Texas – even the population estimates!
