Even with the headwinds of the downturn in the housing market and the economy, the population in Florida has continued to grow. And, while the growth has slowed significantly in terms of percentage (1.36%), it still added 256,000 new residents from April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2011. That ranks it ninth in the country in terms of percentage growth behind the District of Columbia, Texas, Utah, Alaska, Colorado, North Dakota, Washington and Arizona.

In terms of actual residents, Texas gained more people (529,000) than any other state, followed by California (438,000), Florida (256,000), Georgia (128,000) and North Carolina (121,000), according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Combined, these five states accounted for slightly more than half the nation’s total population growth.

Florida’s population now stands at 19,057,542 and places it just 407,000 residents behind New York’s total. If the current growth trend continues, it will likely only take two or three more years for it to overtake New York as the country’s third-most populous state. It’s still well behind the top two states in the nation though, as California gained 438,000 new residents for a total of 37.7 million and Texas gained 529,000 for a total of 25.7 million.

Here’s a nice interactive map you can use to see how the population changes from the last Census affected counties nationwide:

2010 Population Changes – Interactive Map

Gulf Coast Associates, Realtors
Bonita Springs, Florida
www.findsouthwestfloridahomes.com
888-617-3674

Tags: Florida, growth, living