From the Census Department:
State Population Estimates: July 1, 2006 Internet tables showing July 1, 2006, population estimates and components of change for the nation, states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. These are the first state estimates to reflect the population movement resulting from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
LOUISIANA lost almost 5 percent of its pre-Hurricane Katrina population during the course of the year. Louisiana's population totaled 4.3 million on July 1, 2006, down nearly 220,000 from one year earlier. During the previous one-year period (July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2005), Louisiana?s population had grown by 12,000 to 4.5 million.
ARIZONA was the nation's fastest-growing state over the period, breaking Nevada's 19-year grip on the title, with its population rising 3.6 percent. Nevada ranked second this time, as its population climbed by 3.5 percent, followed by Idaho (2.6 percent), Georgia (2.6 percent) and Texas
(2.5 percent).
TEXAS gained more people than any other state between July 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006 (579,275). Florida and California followed, gaining 321,697 and 303,402, respectively. Rounding out the top five states were Georgia
(231,388) and Arizona (213,311).
CALIFORNIA remains the most populous state with a population of 36.5 million on July 1, 2006. Rounding out the top five states were Texas (23.5 million), New York (19.3 million), Florida (18.1 million) and Illinois
(12.8 million).
The WEST has replaced the south as the fastest-growing region with its population climbing by 1.5 percent. The South followed (1.4 percent), with the Midwest third (0.4 percent) and the Northeast fourth (0.1 percent).
For more information, visit <
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007910.html
