FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2002 Robert Bernstein CB02-166 Public Information Office (301) 763-3030/457-3670 (fax) (301) 457-1037 (TDD) e-mail: pio@census.gov Nation's Housing Count Up 2 Million; Biggest State Increase in Texas Over the 15 months between Census Day, April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2001, the number of U.S. housing units increased by 1.9 million to 117.8 million. Texas had the largest numeric gain among states, nearly 200,000, according to 2001 housing unit estimates for states and counties released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The South had both the largest numerical and percentage gains in housing units among regions, followed by the West. Also, for the first time, the Census Bureau released estimates of housing units for counties. Among counties, Douglas County, Colo., outside Denver, experienced the most rapid growth in housing units, at 12.4 percent. Other counties experiencing double-digit growth were Loudoun County, Va., near Washington, D.C.; four counties in the Atlanta area (Paulding, Henry, Forsyth and Newton); and Williamson County, Texas, north of Austin.