Chicago area 7th fastest growing in country

New U.S. Census data shows the Chicago metropolitan area gained more than 66,000 people between 2006 and 2007.

It remains the country's third-most populous metro area.

The region that includes Chicago and its outlying areas gained 66,231 people between 2006 and 2007. Chicago had the largest numeric change in the Midwest for that timeframe.

The Chicago metro area ranks seventh nationally in growth behind Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston, Riverside, California, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

The data from July 1, 2007 was released early Thursday. With 18.8 million people, New York was the most populous metro area on that date, followed by Los Angeles with 12.9 million and Chicago with 9.5 million.