WASHINGTON (AP) - The District of Columbia and some smaller cities in the region are gaining residents faster since 2010 than in the previous decade.

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New census estimates show Washington has gained more than 16,000 residents since April 2010 when the census was taken.

That's a growth rate 2.7 percent and makes the district one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.

The Washington Post reports the growth also brings Washington within passing distance of nearby Baltimore, the next biggest city in the country.

Several smaller cities in the region also are quickly gaining new residents.

Estimates show Leesburg, Va., Gaithersburg, Md., and Rockville, Md., are seeing significant growth.

Alexandria, Va., also is singled out as one of the fastest-growing large cities. Many other fast-growing cities are located in Texas.

Information from: http://www.washingtonpost.com