Iowa makes small population gain

WASHINGTON – Iowa posted a small population gain in the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates released today.

Iowa gained 13,869 residents between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009, and ranked 30

^th

overall among U.S. states for population with 3,007,856.

Texas recorded the biggest population gain of any state with a 478,000 increase, followed by California (381,000), North Carolina (134,000), Georgia (131,000) and Florida (114,000), the Census Bureau reported.

California remained the most populous state, with a July 1, 2009, population of 37 million. Rounding out the top five states were Texas (24.8 million), New York (19.5 million), Florida (18.5 million) and Illinois (12.9 million).

"This is the final set of Census Bureau state population estimates that will be published before the official 2010 Census population counts to be released next December," said Census Bureau Director Robert Groves.

Wyoming showed the highest percentage growth with a population climb of  2.12 percent to 544,270 between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009. Utah was next highest, growing 2.10 percent to 2.8 million. Texas ranked third, as its population climbed 1.97 percent to 24.8 million, with Colorado next (1.81 percent to 5 million).

The only three states to lose population over the period were Michigan (-0.33 percent), Maine (-0.11 percent) and Rhode Island (-0.03 percent).

The nation's population as of July 1, 2009, was 307 million, an increase of 0.86 percent since July 1, 2008.