New Orleans was the country’s fastest-growing city in 2008, though it still has a way to go before it regains its pre-Hurricane Katrina population of 484,674, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The newly released census data also showed that four of the top 10 fastest-growing cities were in Texas, including the second fastest-growing city, Round Rock.

New Orleans’ population grew 8.2 percent between 2008 and 2007, increasing to 311,853. The city’s population reached its lowest point of 210,768 in 2006. The population of Round Rock, a city north of Austin, grew 8.16 percent between 2007 and 2008. Rounding off the top 10 fastest-growing cities are Cary, N.C.; Gilbert, Ariz.; Dallas; Roseville, Calif.; Irvine, Calif.; Raleigh, N.C.; Killeen, Texas; and Fort Worth, Texas.

New York remained the nation’s largest city, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Dallas, San Diego and San Jose, Calif. The Census Bureau’s Wednesday release of city growth information is one of several releases coming out to precede the 2010 Census. “As the 2010 Census approaches, these population estimates provide a sense of the population trends throughout the decade,” said Tom Mesenbourg, the Census Bureau’s acting director.

More information is available at http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013960.html.