WASHINGTON — Louisiana appears to be rebounding from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, gaining 50,000 residents in the year ending July 1, according to new Census Bureau state population estimates being released today.
After the storm hit in August 2005, the bureau estimated the state lost 250,000 residents. Despite the most recent gain, the state is far from returning to its pre-Katrina population level of 4.5 million.
The Census Bureau estimate is reached by measuring births, deaths and migration into and out of each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
In Louisiana, the Census estimates a net increase of people moving into the state from other states of 29,000, accounting for more than half the jump.
The fastest-growing states continue to be in the Rocky Mountain region and the Southeast. Texas also continues to attract new residents at a rapid rate.
Nevada regained the title of fastest-growing state, having increased in population by 2.9 percent to 2.6 million. Nevada had held that title for 19 years in a row before being bumped off by Arizona last year. Arizona is the second-fastest-growing state according to the current estimate, with a population increase of 2.8 percent to 6.3 million.
Only two states lost population. Michigan’s population dipped by three-tenths of a percent and Rhode Island saw a decrease of four-tenths of a percent. Ohio’s growth was virtually flat.
Florida, a state whose economy has been fueled largely by a steady stream of retirees crossing the border each year, gained in population but at a slower rate than usual. Florida was the 19th-fastest-growing state through July 2007 compared with the previous year when it ranked ninth.
Florida’s population increased by 1.1 percent to 18.3 million as of July 2007. The previous year the rate of increase was 1.8 percent.
Besides Nevada and Arizona, other Western states that made the top 10 list for fastest growth were Utah (third), Idaho (fourth), Colorado (eighth) and Wyoming (ninth).
Washington state was ranked 12th in growth, with a population increase of 1.5 percent. The state’s population was estimated at 6,374,910.
The total U.S. population was estimated at 301.6 million on July 1.
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