The U.S. Census Bureau estimates and releases Census data of the country on a periodic basis. The Bureau uses the data available on births, deaths, migration and other administrative records and survey data to develop estimates of migration for the census.
In a recent survey report, the U.S Census Bureau News has released a list of top five most populated states in the U.S. The report is based on population estimates taken from July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006.
According to the U.S. Census report, California tops the list of the most populous states in the U.S. with a population of 36.5 million. The second most populous state was Texas with a 23.5 million followed by New York in the third position with 19.3 million residents. The fourth most populated state in the U.S. as of July 1, 2006 was Florida with a population of 18.1 million. Rounding out the top five states was Illinois in the fifth position with a population of 12.8 million.
The report also provides ranking on the top 10 fastest growing states and the top ten numeric gainers. The following are the top ten states that had a faster pace of population growth.
Arizona is America's fastest-growing state with a population rise of 3.6 %. Nevada was in second place with a population increase of 3.5 %. Idaho is the third fastest growing state with a population gain of 2.6 %. Georgia ranked fourth as its population increased by 2.5 % followed by Texas which saw a population gain of 2.5 %. Utah is in sixth place (2.4 %) followed by North Carolina (2.1 %), Colorado (1.9 %), Florida (1.8 %) and South Carolina (1.7 %).
Among numeric gainers - the states in America that gained more people between July 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006, Texas is in the first place with an increase of 579,275 people. Second on the list is Florida with a population gain of 321,697. California stands next with a gain of 303,402 followed by Georgia (231,388). Arizona (with an increase of 213,311 people), North Carolina (with an increase of 184,046 people), Washington (with an increase of 103,899 people), Colorado (with an increase of 90,082 people), Nevada (with an increase of 83,228 people) and Tennessee (with an increase of 83,058 people), add to the top ten numeric gainers.
