The U.S. population has grown by more than 20 million people since 2010. But where those new Americans end up is not even across the board.

The populations of half of all counties in the U.S. shrank from 2010 to 2020, while those of most metropolitan areas continued to grow.

People flock to booming cities for good reasons: jobs, educational opportunities, cultural and recreational activities. But traffic can be a nightmare and housing costs are off the charts.

We discuss why and how cities grow, and what impacts growth has on residents and take a look at Utah, the fastest-growing state in the U.S.

This show is part of 1A's "Remaking America" project looking at how our government is – and is not – working for everyone. It's a partnership with six public radio stations, including KUT in Austin, Texas.

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