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STILLWATER, Okla. -- Stillwater, located smack-dab between Oklahoma's two largest cities and home of Oklahoma State University, topped the state with a 17 percent growth rate from 2000 to 2007, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

The estimates released Thursday showed growth in metropolitan areas, those with a population of at least 50,000, and micropolitan areas, those with between 10,000 and 49,999 residents.

Estimated population of the Stillwater area reached nearly 80,000 last year.

It has been mentioned high on lists measuring everything from friendliness to livability to public safety.

"Those types of things do have value when people start looking at where they want to live, work and raise a family," said Larry Brown, president and chief executive officer of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce.

Stillwater's equal distance between Oklahoma City and Tulsa has contributed to its attractiveness, Brown said.

Its largest employer is Oklahoma State University, which has 5,600 workers.

It has become a fertile ground for entrepreneurs.

Steve Irby, a keyboardist who performed in rock bands in high school and college, founded Stillwater Designs in 1973, building custom speakers in his garage. Seven years later, he developed the original Kicker, a full-range enclosed speaker system designed to fit behind the seat in pickup trucks.

The product launched the Kicker car audio brand, which is sold in all 50 states and in more than 60 countries.

"He is a shining example of what people in Stillwater can accomplish," Brown said.

Oklahoma City ranked second on the growth list with 97,568 new residents for an 8.9 percent growth rate and Durant was third at 8.3 percent, followed by Tahlequah at 6.8 percent and Woodward at 5.5 percent.

Tulsa and Shawnee were next, each with 5.4 percent growth, then Ardmore and Ada both with 4.1 percent and Muskogee at 2.4 percent.