Nevada Fastest-Growing State

Nevada returned to the top as the nation's fastest-growing state, with a population increase of 2.9 percent between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Arizona, fastest-growing between 2005 and 2006, slipped to second place. Meanwhile, Louisiana began to rebound from its post-Hurricane Katrina population loss, gaining nearly 50,000 people from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007, for a total population of 4.3 million. The state lost 250,000 residents during the previous one-year period. Texas gained more people than any other state: Its 2006-2007 increase of almost 500,000 was ahead of runner-up California, which added slightly more than 300,000. California remains the most populous state with about 37 million people. The Census Bureau also released a population estimate for Puerto Rico, which was 3.9 million on July 1, 2007. This is the first in a series of population estimates that will be released on a flow basis through summer 2008. In addition to states, estimates will be provided for the total population of counties, incorporated cities and metro areas, as well as the population of the nation, states, and counties by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin. As our nation prepares to ring in the new year, the U.S. Census Bureau projected the Jan. 1, 2008, population will be 303,146,284 -- up 2,842,103 or 0.9 percent from New Year's Day 2007. In January, the United States is expected to register one birth every eight seconds and one death every 11 seconds. Meanwhile, net international migration is expected to add one person every 30 seconds. The result is an increase in the total U.S. population of one person every 13 seconds.