Change-up: Growth Patterns in U.S. Changing

What was once the conventional wisdom on growth is changing. Arizona, Florida, and Nevada have traditionally been the fastest growing states. While each continues to grow, the RATE of that growth has undergone some changes.

Demographers at the Brookings Institution, a Washington, D.C. think-tank, attribute the changes to the slow-down in the housing market.

People continue to flee the Mid-west, especially Michigan (one of two states to actually lose population). The Mountain States in the West continue to post large population gains as people arrive from California and elsewhere. Arizona, Florida, and Nevada are still among the fastest growing states by percentage. For example, Nevada increased by 2.9% (72,955 people). But, this is less than the 3.5% increase and lower than the 3%-plus growth rate for the six previous years. Over the same time period, Arizona saw its population increase by 2.8% compared with 3.6% growth in the previous year.

Florida has taken a serious hit from the mortgage crisis. Florida grew 1.07%, slightly faster than the U.S. growth rate of 0.96%. This means that 35,301 people moved to Florida from another state, 134,798 fewer than the previous year. That is the slowest rate of domestic migration into Florida since at least 1990 when the U.S. Census Bureau started tracking migration between states.

So, why did the Midwest suffer so much? Jobs! Michigan lost 30,500 residents (0.3% decline). Ohio was essentially flat. Other than Michigan, Rhode Island is the only state to lose population. Utah and Idaho were the third and fourth fastest growing states. Colorado and Wyoming were eighth and ninth.

California lost 263,035 residents but grew 0.8%, primarily from births.

Florida has given up the “crown” of growth in the South to Georgia (+2.17%, 202,670 residents) and North Carolina (+2.16%, 191,590 residents). Texas is still king of growth (+2.12) by gaining 496,751 residents; more than any other state.

One final note on Louisiana: DANGER! Because of Katrina, the state lost 220,000 residents. Last year the state saw a return of 50,000 residents. In short, it has a ways to go before getting back to normal.