EMBARGOED UNTIL: 10 A.M. EST, DECEMBER 31, 1997 (WEDNESDAY) Karen Cowles/David Hoffman CB97-213 Census 2000 Publicity Office 301-457-2000/301-457-2992 (fax) 301-457-4067 (TDD) Gregory Harper 301-457-2441 Nevada Fastest Growing State in Nation 12th Straight Year, Census Bureau Reports Nevada's population grew by 4.8 percent from 1996 to 1997, making it the nation's fastest growing state for the 12th consecutive year and moving it past Nebraska as the nation's 37th most populous state, according to population estimates released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The Internet address for this information is www.census.gov/ population/www/estimates/statepop.html. Arizona followed Nevada in population growth, increasing by 2.7 percent. Other fast-growing states were Georgia and Utah, whose populations grew by 2.1 percent each, and Colorado, 2.0 percent. A growth rate of 1.6 percent made the West the fastest-growing region in the nation. California, whose growth had slowed earlier in the decade, grew by 1.3 percent, which was faster than the national average of 0.9 percent. California added more than 410,000 people from July 1,1996 to July 1, 1997, by far the largest numerical increase of any state. The South's growth rate of 1.3 percent put it second behind the West. Georgia, with a growth rate of 2.1 percent, was the region's fastest-growing state, followed by Texas at 1.8 percent and Florida and North Carolina at 1.6 percent each. West Virginia (-0.3 percent) and the District of Columbia (-1.9 percent) both lost population. Population growth in the Midwest, meanwhile, slowed to 0.5 percent. Minnesota was the fastest-growing state in the Midwest (19th in the nation), increasing by nearly 37,000 people or 0.8 percent. No state in the Midwest grew faster than the national average. North Dakota was the only state in the region to lose population (1,800). The Northeast, with a population growth rate of 0.2 percent, was again the slowest-growing region in the country. New Hampshire's growth rate of 1.1 percent ranked the state first in the region and 17th in the nation. Pennsylvania's population loss of 20,000 was the greatest numerical loss of any state. The Census Bureau estimated the nation's population increased from 265.2 million on July 1, 1996 to 267.6 million on July 1, 1997 a growth rate of 0.9 percent.-X-The Census Bureau pre-eminent collector and provider of timely, relevant and quality data about the people and economy of the United States. In more than 100 surveys annually and 20 censuses a decade, evolving from the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau provides official information about America's people, businesses, industries and institutions.
