New statistics show more people moved into New York City than out of it last year. It's the first time in more than 60 years.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg cheered the reversal as a sign of the city's quality of life Thursday. The finding comes from new census estimates.
"For the first time since before 1950, more people are coming to New York City than leaving," said Mayor Bloomberg. "We have many indicators of quality of life in the city – record low crime, record high tourism, record high life expectancy, record high graduation rates, record job growth and more – but there's no better indication of the strength of our city than a record high population and a net population influx. People are voting with their feet."
Overall, the city's estimated population has grown by more than 161,500 people since 2010. It's at a record high of 8.3 million.
The growth is also due to a growing gap between births and deaths as life expectancy increases.
Many major American cities' populations began to shrink as suburbs grew after World War II. The decline became especially sharp in the 1970s.
Bloomberg says the all-time high population and net influx of residents is one of a number of recent measures that show quality of life in New York City is better than ever:
Record Lows
Murders: 419 in 2012
Shootings: 1,353 in 2012
Incarceration rates: 474 inmates per 100,000 residents in New York City in 2011
Teen pregnancy: 72.6 pregnancies per 1,000 girls in 2010
Emergency response times: Six minutes and 30 seconds in 2012
Fire fatalities: 58 in 2012
Record Highs
Private-sector jobs:3.2 million
Life expectancy: Average of 80.9 years
Tourists: 52 million in 2012
High school graduation rate: 65 percent
Percentage of New Yorkers who live within a 10-minute walk of a park: 76 percent
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:00 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:00:29 GMT
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police.
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police. Andrea Rebello's family followed the pastor Wednesday as he led her white cloth-draped coffin to the altar at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:55 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:55:01 GMT
Jersey shore town is celebrating a milestone as it rebuilds from Superstorm Sandy. Belmar officials will reopen their 1.3-mile boardwalk that was destroyed by the October storm.
Jersey shore town is celebrating a milestone as it rebuilds from Superstorm Sandy. Belmar officials will reopen their 1.3-mile boardwalk that was destroyed by the October storm.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:27 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:27:26 GMT
Black and Hispanic men are more likely to be stopped in the Bronx and Brooklyn than other boroughs, according to an analysis of police street stop data released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Black and Hispanic men are more likely to be stopped in the Bronx and Brooklyn than other boroughs, according to an analysis of police street stop data released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:10 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:10:42 GMT
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police.
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police. The incident Monday night involved two men, who police say, had met at the Bowery Mission and went out drinking together in the East Village. Roman Gornell, 39, was arrested on Wednesday.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:23 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:23:21 GMT
Ex-congressman Anthony Weiner whose career imploded after raunchy tweets said in a YouTube video announcement that he's in the New York City mayoral race.
Ex-congressman Anthony Weiner whose career imploded after raunchy tweets said in a YouTube video announcement that he's in the New York City mayoral race. A poll released Wednesday placed Weiner in second place behind City Council Speaker Christine Quinn in a Democratic primary.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:10 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:10:21 GMT
Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule Wednesday morning on one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.
Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule Wednesday morning on one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:42 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:42:24 GMT
The National Weather Service is looking into whether a tornado touched down in a rural eastern New York county during a series of severe thunderstorms that rumbled across the upstate region.
The National Weather Service is looking into whether a tornado touched down in a rural eastern New York county during a series of severe thunderstorms that rumbled across the upstate region.
