A geographer models the spread of a city with a population growth rate of 1.8% annually. If the current population is 1.2 million, what will be the population in 15 years?

Mon, 04 May 2026 15:01:07 +0000

**Why Urban Expansion Matters: Projecting a City’s Growth with Geography** Imagine watching a city breathe—slow but steady—over decades, shaped by migration, economics, and infrastructure. This is exactly what geographers study: the slow unfolding of population change across space, or the spatial spread of urban centers. As more residents—especially in fast-evolving regions—raise questions about how cities grow, one steady metric guides long-term forecasts: a 1.8% annual population increase. For a city starting at 1.2 million people, this growth rate isn’t a rumors-driven trend—it reflects measurable demographic shifts shaping infrastructure, housing, and public investment. But now, with 15 years ahead, what does this growth actually mean? Let’s explore how geography models urban expansion and what that future could look like for communities across the United States. --- ### Why Track Urban Population Growth Like This?