Oil companies have been drilling successfully for crude in the Andrews area for more than 80 years. However, rising oil prices have caused a recent spike in production.
And, with advances in drilling techniques, oilmen have also been able to tap reserves in West Texas's Permian Basin that they couldn't economically exploit in the past. Now the oilfields produce 20% more oil than three years ago.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
*Rankings are based on the change in annual population estimates for metropolitan and micropolitan areas between July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2012.
By Les Christie
@CNNMoney
- Last updated March 19 2013 05:58 AM ET