Census Bureau Releases First 2010 Census Data

Census and Data Equity News 12.21,10

The U.S. Census Bureau released the first results of the 2010 census today. These findings were delivered to President Obama by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, as required by the Constitution.

The report included national and state populations as well as apportionment results for the 435 seats of the House of Representatives among the 50 states.

The census was completed on time and under budget, Sec. Locke announced, despite pessimistic predictions.

The bureau announced the official national population count, which is 308,745,538, up from 281,421,906 in 2000. The 9.7 percent growth rate over the last decade was the second slowest since the Great Depression years of the 1930s.

Census Director Robert Groves noted the continuation of a multi-decade trend of growth in the South and West. Nevada experienced the largest growth, while Michigan and Puerto Rico declined in population. Wyoming, Vermont, North Dakota, Alaska and South Dakota are the least populous states in the nation. California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois are the most populous states.

Groves reported a shift of 12 seats in the House, with Texas gaining the most (four). States gaining seats included Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Washington. Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania lost seats. There was no change in 32 states.