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Census 2000 was the largest census in the history of the United States, counting 281 million people. In fact, the 33 million people added to the U.S. population between 1990 and 2000 is the largest census-to-census increase ever. The growth rate during the 1990's (13 percent) was more than the rate in the 1980's (10 percent), but significantly less than the rate experienced during the 1950's, when a baby boom contributed to an 18 percent gain.
During the 1990's, the population center of the US shifted 12 miles south and 33 miles west, from a location near Steelville, Missouri, to a spot near Edgar Springs, Missouri. With an overall 20 percent growth rate, the West grew more rapidly than any other region. The South was the second fastest growing region, increasing 17 percent. The Midwest and the Northeast grew almost 8 percent and 6 percent, respectively.
Because of differences in growth rates, the regional shares of the total population have shifted considerably in recent decades. Between 1950 and 2000, the South's share of the population increased from 31 to 36 percent and the West increased from 13 to 22 percent. Meanwhile, despite overall population growth in each of the past five decades, the Midwest's share of the total population fell from 29 to 23 percent and the Northeast's proportion declined from 26 to 19 percent.
The nation's population grew by 1.0 percent (2.8 million people) between July 1, 2002, and July 1, 2003, to 290.8 million, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. More than half (55 percent) of the nation's population growth between 2002 and 2003 resulted from natural increase, with the remaining 45 percent coming from net international migration.
Among the nation's 10 fastest-growing states were four in the Rocky Mountains: Nevada (ranking first for the 17th consecutive year with a growth rate of 3.4 percent), Arizona (second), Idaho (fifth) and Utah (eighth). The remaining top 10 states were all coastal: Florida (third), Texas (fourth), Georgia (sixth), Delaware (seventh), California (ninth) and Hawaii (10th). States that moved into the top 10 this year were Delaware, California and Hawaii.
The decade of the 1990's was the only decade of the 20th century when every state gained population. Nevada grew the fastest (66 percent); North Dakota grew the least (0.5 percent). California had the largest numerical population increase, adding 4.1 million people. The District of Columbia actually declined in population during the 1990's, by almost 6 percent.
The nation's 10 most populous states accounted for 54 percent of the nation's population on July 1, 2003. California, Texas and Florida combined for 42 percent of the nation's numerical population increase between 2002 and 2003. California remained the most populous state in the nation with 35.5 million people in 2003. The second and third most populous states were Texas (22.1 million) and New York (19.2 million). There was only one change in the ranking of the 10 most populous states between 2002 and 2003, as Georgia (ninth) passed New Jersey (10th).
In general, metropolitan areas across the US grew faster (14 percent) than nonmetropolitan areas (10 percent). For instance, major metropolitan areas in Texas show up as pockets of fast population growth, while most of the nonmetropolitan counties in the state recorded either slow growth or population decline. In 2000, 80.3 percent of those counted (226 million people) lived in metropolitan areas, up from the 198.4 million people (79.8 percent) in 1990.
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