These Fast Growing Areas Are Bulldozing Trees at an Ultra Rapid Pace

By Evan Comen • September 10, 2025

Captivating view of a sprawling ancient tree in a verdant forest setting, perfect for nature backgrounds.

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According to a recent USDA study, U.S. cities lose close to 36 million trees every year. Since the start of the century, relentless urban growth has erased more than five million acres of canopy nationwide, stripping away a natural buffer against pollution and locking in higher levels of carbon emissions.

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In dozens of fast-growing cities throughout the Southeast, forested areas are being transformed into medium density development at a rapid pace, with more than half of all tree cover being converted to residential and commercial buildings. A look at recent satellite imagery reveals the cities that are getting rid of their forests the fastest.

To determine the cities getting rid of their forests the fastest, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on land cover by class from the IPUMS NHGIS program of the Minnesota Population Center at the Institute for Social Research & Data Innovation at the University of Minnesota. Cities, towns, villages, and census-designated places were ranked based on the percentage-point change in forest as a percentage of total land cover from 2001 to 2021. Forest land cover includes the land cover classes deciduous forest, evergreen forest, and mixed forest. Supplemental data on population is from the U.S. Census Bureau.

25. Savannah, GA

Photo by Ron Dylewski on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 13.3% (-6.3 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 19.6%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +12.2%
Total population, 2023: 147,546

24. Pearland, TX

Photo by Every Angle on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 2.8% (-6.5 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 9.3%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +234.7%
Total population, 2023: 125,983

23. Tallahassee, FL

Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 26.6% (-6.7 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 33.3%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +32.6%
Total population, 2023: 199,696

22. Little Rock, AR

Photo by Scott May on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 22.3% (-7.1 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 29.4%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +10.7%
Total population, 2023: 202,739

21. Greenville, SC

Photo by Brad Shortridge on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 10.9% (-7.2 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 18.1%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +28.1%
Total population, 2023: 71,755

20. Tyler, TX

Photo by John Robertson on Pexels

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 14.2% (-7.2 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 21.4%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +28.8%
Total population, 2023: 107,718

19. Jacksonville, NC

Photo by Audri Van Gores on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 15.9% (-7.6 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 23.5%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +10.2%
Total population, 2023: 73,507

18. O'Fallon, MO

Photo by Gabrielle Corley on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 8.4% (-7.7 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 16.1%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +100.8%
Total population, 2023: 92,697

17. Raleigh, NC

Photo by Sam Szuchan on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 15.6% (-7.9 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 23.5%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +70.5%
Total population, 2023: 470,763

16. League City, TX

Photo by Eric Gonzalez on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 4.0% (-8.0 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 12.0%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +152.8%
Total population, 2023: 114,885

15. Warner Robins, GA

Photo by Barbara Burgess on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 10.7% (-8.2 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 18.9%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +66.9%
Total population, 2023: 81,438

14. Mount Pleasant, SC

Photo by David Martin on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 11.4% (-8.4 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 19.8%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +94.6%
Total population, 2023: 92,662

13. Alpharetta, GA

Photo by Adaobi B on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 13.6% (-8.5 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 22.2%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +90.4%
Total population, 2023: 66,355

12. Concord, NC

Photo by Zac Gudakov on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 17.1% (-9.2 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 26.3%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +90.3%
Total population, 2023: 106,518

11. Rock Hill, SC

Photo by Karolina Bobek on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 23.3% (-9.3 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 32.5%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +50.2%
Total population, 2023: 74,769

10. Durham, NC

Photo by Colin Rowley on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 19.7% (-9.5 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 29.3%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +54.2%
Total population, 2023: 288,465

9. Auburn, AL

Photo by Viet Pham on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 36.0% (-11.7 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 47.7%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +83.2%
Total population, 2023: 78,738

8. Conroe, TX

Photo by Obed Esquivel-Pickett on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 25.0% (-13.6 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 38.5%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +163.4%
Total population, 2023: 96,976

7. Hoover, AL

Photo by Josh Pigford on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 29.9% (-15.2 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 45.0%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +47.3%
Total population, 2023: 92,401

6. Leander, TX

Photo by Alex Batchelor on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 26.5% (-16.5 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 43.0%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +793.6%
Total population, 2023: 67,880

5. Cary, NC

Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 13.6% (-17.8 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 31.3%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +86.9%
Total population, 2023: 176,686

4. Cedar Park, TX

Photo by Luis Rodriguez on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 16.0% (-18.2 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 34.3%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +197.4%
Total population, 2023: 77,474

3. The Woodlands, TX

Photo by Austin Hervias on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 7.8% (-19.7 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 27.5%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +110.3%
Total population, 2023: 116,916

2. Apex, NC

Photo by Jeff Miller on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 22.4% (-22.4 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 44.8%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +235.3%
Total population, 2023: 67,765

1. Atascocita, TX

Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash

Forest as percentage of land cover, 2021: 12.6% (-27.4 ppts from 2001)
Forest as percentage of land cover, 2001: 40.0%
Population change, 2000 to 2023: +162.4%
Total population, 2023: 93,926

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