WASHINGTON ? The latest U.S. Census data shows that the U.S. population has soared to 307 million people, USA Today reports. The data also found that the West has the fastest-growing population. In 2009, population growth grew only 0.86 percent, the slowest rate this decade.
With the recession changing American migration habits, the Census Bureau found that more people moved from Florida and Nevada than moved into those states. Both Florida?s and Nevada?s population gains were attributed to births. California registered its fourth-lowest growth rate since in nearly 20 years.
?People are staying put. They?re just not moving,? said Kenneth Johnson, a demographer at the University of New Hampshire?s Carsey Institute.
Texas gained the most new residents, with 478,000 people moving into the Lone Star State. ?We?re still showing strong population growth in spite of the fact that Texas entered the recession in late 2008,? said Texas state demographer Karl Eschbach.
This shift in people will effect congressional reapportionment, if congressional seats were parceled out based on the July 1 estimates. Congressional seats will be reassigned after the official 2010 Census. The July 1 estimates have Texas acquiring three Representatives and Ohio losing two. Washington, Utah, South Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, Florida and Arizona would gain one seat each, while Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Iowa and Illinois would lose one seat each.
Rhode Island, Michigan and Maine all had a population decline, with Michigan losing residents for the fourth consecutive year. Louisiana experienced a 0.9 percent increase in residents, bringing it back to its level before 2005?s Hurricane Katrina. For all states, births have driven population growth, instead of new residents.
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