The West is the fastest-growing region of the United States, with Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho and Colorado leading growth in the last seven years, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Colorado ranked eighth in percentage of growth of states nationwide and 10th in number of new residents, according to data measuring the growth between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2007.
The annual report showed that immigrants are responsible for more than one-third of the nationwide population growth of 2.87 million over the past year. New residents, both international and American, continued to flock to the South and West and away from the Northeast and Midwest.
By percentage, Nevada ranked first in growth; Arizona, second; Utah, third; and Idaho, fifth.
Among the other states with high rates of growth by percentage were Georgia, in fourth place; Texas, sixth; and Florida, seventh.
The most populated state was California, followed by Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey and Georgia.
Colorado gained 95,267 residents between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007.
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, the Census Bureau statement said.
Arizona, the 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.
By the year 2030,census officials project that Colorado will be the 22nd-largest state by population with 5.7 million residents.
Wyoming’s population will grow to 522,979 but will still be the least-populated state. Arizona will be 10th with 10.7 million; Utah will be 31st with 3.4 million; and Idaho will be 37th with 1.9 million people.
Denver Post wire services contributed to this report.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
