The Crestview-Ft. Walton Beach-Destin area was ranked third in U.S. News and World Report’s recent list of the 10 fastest growing cities in America.

The population in the communities increased 3.6 percent from 2011 to 2012.

Midland, Texas, had the fastest growth at 4.6 percent in the same time period, followed by Clarksville, Tenn. , at 3.7 percent. Rounding out the list were The Villages, Fla.; Odessa, Texas; Jacksonville, N.C.; Austin-Round Rock, Texas; Casper, Wy.; Columbus, Ga.; and Manhattan, Kansas.

While oil and gas jobs drove the populations shifts in Texas, growth in Florida and Nevada could be because the recession is winding down, U.S. News speculated.