[StBernard] July 1, 2008 state population estimates now available from Census Bureau

[Westley Annis]

Detailed July 1, 2008 State Population Estimates tables:
http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php
 
Louisiana's 2008 population estimate of about 4,411,000 is an increase over
the 2007 and 2006 census population estimates, but shows a 58,000 decrease
from the 2000 census count and 85,000 drop from the 2005 estimate.
 
Utah was the nation's fastest-growing state between July 1, 2007, and July
1, 2008, as its population climbed 2.5 percent to 2.7 million, according to
estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

      Arizona was the second fastest-growing state, increasing 2.3 percent
between 2007 and 2008. Texas, North Carolina and Colorado completed the top
five, each with a growth rate of 2.0 percent. Nevada, which had been among
the four fastest-growing states each of the last 23 years, grew 1.8 percent
and ranked eighth over the most recent period.

     Texas gained more people than any other state between July 1, 2007, and
July 1, 2008 (484,000), followed by California (379,000), North Carolina
(181,000), Georgia (162,000) and Arizona (147,000).

      The only two states to lose population were Michigan and Rhode Island.
Michigan's population declined 0.5 percent (46,000), while Rhode Island's
fell 0.2 percent (2,000).

      California remained the most populous state, with about 36.8 million
people on July 1, 2008. Rounding out the top five states were Texas (24.3
million), New York (19.5 million), Florida (18.3 million) and Illinois (12.9
million).

      Other highlights:

*	On the whole, the Northeastern states have gained population at an
increasing rate since 2005, a turnaround from their declining growth rates
from 2000 to 2005.

*	Six of the 10 fastest-growing states from 2007 to 2008 were Rocky
Mountain states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Three
others lined the South Atlantic coast: Georgia, North Carolina and South
Carolina.

*	The West was the fastest-growing region (1.4 percent) between 2007
and 2008, but the South added the highest number of people over the period
(1.4 million).

*	The estimated July 1, 2008, population for Puerto Rico was 4
million, up by 0.3 percent (13,000) from one year earlier.
	   

Table A. Leading 10 States/Equivalents by Population Change: July 1, 2007,
to July 1, 2008 
Top 10 Fastest-Growing
 	 Top 10 Numeric Gainers
 	
State	 Percent 
Change
 	 State	 Change
1. Utah	 2.5
 	 1. Texas	 483,542
2. Arizona	 2.3
 	 2. California	 379,132
3. Texas	 2.0 
 	 3. North Carolina	 180,820
4. North Carolina	 2.0
 	 4. Georgia 	162,447
5. Colorado	 2.0
 	 5. Arizona	 146,759
6. Idaho	 1.8
 	 6. Florida	 128,814
7. Wyoming	 1.8
 	 7. Washington	 99,713
8. Nevada	 1.8
 	 8. Colorado	 96,686
9. Georgia	 1.7
 	 9. Illinois	 75,754
10. South Carolina	 1.7
 	 10. South Carolina	 74,886

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The Census Bureau develops state population estimates by measuring
population change since the most recent census. It uses births, deaths,
administrative records and survey data to develop estimates of population.
For more detail regarding the methodology see
<http://www.census.gov/popest/topics/methodology/>.