FASTEST GROWING STATES

Nevada regained the title of fastest-growing state with its population increasing by 2.9 percent to 2.6 million through July 2007.

Nevada had held that title for 19 years in a row before being dethroned by Arizona last year. Arizona is the second-fastest-growing stat,e according to the current estimate, with a population increase of 2.8 percent to 6.3 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual estimate of state population changes.

Florida saw the sharpest fall off in population growth. Florida grew 1.07 percent, only slightly faster than the U.S. growth rate of 0.96 percent and the slowest growth rate in the state since 1990, making it the 19th fastest-growing state.

The only two states in the country to lose population were Michigan and Rhode Island. Michigan lost 30,500 residents, a 0.3 percent decline.

The 10 fastest-growing states in order are:

Nevada
Arizona
Utah
Idaho
Georgia
North Carolina
Texas
Colorado
Wyoming
South Carolina

Source: The Associated Press, John Dunbar (12/26/07)