The Dallas Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) has grown significantly in the past few decades, especially in certain counties.  The changing face of the Dallas PMSA is represented in its newfound diversity, most evident within the city of Dallas itself, where immigration has been a major factor in population increase.  Diversity increases cultural vitality, innovation capacity through new skills and perspectives, and global economic connections.  Highly diverse communities, however, often require substantial community efforts to achieve a sense of unity. 

This aspiration reports data and information on three indicators, which are listed in the grey panel on the right side of this page.  Specifically, the three indicators within this aspiration report the following:

• Population growth: Population growth numbers in the Dallas PMSA from Census 2000 and estimates of population increases from 2000 to 2005 from the Real Estate Center of Texas A&M University
• Community diversity: Distribution of racial and ethnic groups in the population in the Dallas PMSA using information from Census 2000 and the 2004 American Community Survey
• State of caring: Dallas' overall ranking, strengths, and weaknesses on the United Way's State of Caring Index