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.

  • catloaf@lemm.ee
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    27 days ago

    Okay but people aren’t just inert gray cubes. You can’t just pack them up in warehouses in East Bumfuck, Oklahoma. They have wants and needs. And not just basic infrastructure like power and water, you also need arts and entertainment. You can’t just plop down a city like a video game.

    • whithom@discuss.online
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      27 days ago

      75% is housing, 25% is business and entertainment. With 600k people, any business is going to succeed. And, we tax the fuck out of them unless they are local to the cube.

      I think it could work. Just imagine my idea is like communism without the tanks. Community first.

      Also, they aren’t gray cubes they will be beautifully designed and really fun to live in. Help me out here, I imagine it to be a wonderful place to live. Just go with me on this for a minute