For some of the country's largest cities, last year was a good one for growth. None less than the technology hub otherwise known as San Jose.
Metropolitan economies grew by 2.5 percent last year, measured by gross domestic product, according to recent statistics from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. And while that growth makes up for a decline of that same percentage one year prior, some most certainly expanded quite a bit more than others.
Indeed, nearly all of the country's fifty largest metro areas experienced economic growth of some form last year, and manufacturing may have been the most widespread driver. Some cities, however, have other industries to thank for their economic expansion. San Jose, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, saw some of the strongest GDP growth thanks much in part to the information industry that surrounds it. Indeed, 3.6 percent of its 13.4 percent growth is attributed to the tech sector.
It remains to be seen if metro areas can sustain the same level of growth through the end of this year, especially with the manufacturing industry stalling, and national GDP expanding by just one worrisome annual percentage point in the second quarter of the year. Perhaps the country will look back on last year with some form of nostalgia.
Of the country's 50 largest cities, here are the ten that saw the biggest percentage gain last year, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis:
