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Dec. 27, 2007
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POPULATION OF 2.56 MILLION: Silver State again No. 1

2.9 percent growth rate propels Nevada

By HENRY BREAN
REVIEW JOURNAL
View the full ranking of fastest-growing states




After a one-year hiatus, Nevada has regained the title of fastest-growing state in the nation, according to new Census Bureau state population estimates released today.

Nevada returned to the top spot with a 2.9 percent growth rate that pushed the population to more than 2.56 million in the year ending July 1.

Nevada held that title for 19 years in a row before being bumped off by Arizona last year. Arizona is the second-fastest-growing state according to the current estimate, with a population increase of 2.8 percent to 6.3 million.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas economist Keith Schwer expects the Silver State to stay at or near the top of the list for years to come, thanks in large part to a flurry of new resorts and expansions scheduled to open on the Strip starting in 2009.

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    • "That should be a big boost for jobs, and with jobs come population," said Schwer, who leads UNLV's Center for Business and Economic Research.

    Much of the state's growth is driven by Clark County, which is home to more than 70 percent of Nevada residents. Schwer and other demographic experts think the county's population surged past the 2 million mark sometime in the past few months.

    Schwer said the growth rate shows the confidence people have in Nevada's economy, but it does not necessarily translate to a higher quality of life for residents here.

    "Just getting bigger is kind of like sitting around the table after Christmas dinner. You're getting bigger, but you might not feel well," he said. "Getting bigger doesn't mean you're better off."

    The Census Bureau estimated the total U.S. population at 301.6 million last July 1.

    Besides Nevada and Arizona, other Western states that made the top 10 list for fastest growth were Utah and Idaho, ranked third and fourth. In the Southeast, Georgia was fifth nationally, North Carolina was sixth, and South Carolina was 10th.

    Texas, meanwhile, had the seventh-fastest growth by percentage and was tops numerically, having drawn about 500,000 new residents.

    California remains the nation's most populous state with about 37 million people. It attracted about 300,000 new residents, second to Texas numerically, but 25th fastest by rate of growth, the same ranking as last year.

    By comparison, Nevada's 2.9 percent growth rate translated to slightly less than 73,000 new residents.

    Elsewhere, Louisiana appears to be rebounding from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, gaining 50,000 residents in the year ending July 1.

    After the storm hit in August 2005, the Census Bureau estimated the state lost 250,000 residents. Despite the most recent gain, the state is far from returning to its pre-Katrina population level of 4.5 million.

    The bureau's estimate is reached by measuring births, deaths and migration into and out of each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

    In Louisiana, the Census Bureau estimated a net increase of people moving into the state of 29,000, accounting for more than half of the jump. "That's a pretty big number," said Greg Harper, a demographer with the bureau.

    Only two states lost population. Michigan's population dipped by three-tenths of a percent and Rhode Island saw a decrease of four-tenths of a percent. Ohio's growth was nearly flat.

    Florida, a state whose economy has been fueled largely by a steady stream of retirees crossing the border each year, gained in population but at a slower rate than usual. Florida was the 19th-fastest-growing state through July 2007 compared with the previous year when it ranked ninth.

    Florida's population increased by 1.1 percent to 18.3 million as of July. The previous year the rate of increase was 1.8 percent.

    "If there's one state that's a little surprising, I would say it's Florida," Harper said.

    The bureau will release county population breakdowns in the spring, which should give a clearer indication of how many residents have returned to the parishes in and around New Orleans.

    Earlier this week, urban planning consultancy firm GCR & Associates estimated New Orleans' population at 300,000, about 65 percent of its pre-Hurricane Katrina size, which was around 455,000.

    GCR chief executive and New Orleans native Greg Rigamer said people have been coming back to the city at a rate of 3,000 to 4,000 per month, which includes in-state migration. Things are looking up, but the city still suffers from failing infrastructure, poor health care and educational services and a "horrific" criminal justice problem.

    "Things are not all well in New Orleans," he said. "They are clearly getting better. It's no time to be popping the champagne corks."

    The Constitution requires the Census Bureau to count the population every 10 years. The results are used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and electoral votes.

    This year's state population estimates are consistent with previous years that show high-growth states such as Texas probably will gain seats in Congress, while slow-growth states such as Ohio probably will lose seats.

    Whether Nevada's growth will be enough to bring it a fourth congressional seat after the 2010 Census remains to be seen, said Eric Herzik, political science professor for the University of Nevada, Reno.

    Herzik said it looks like Nevada, Arizona and Utah all might be eligible for additional House seats, but those will have to come at the expense of "somewhere back East like Michigan and Pennsylvania."

    To wrestle a seat away from one of those states, Nevada will have to be "not close but clearly eligible," Herzik said.

    Nevada gained its third seat, now occupied by Rep. Jon Porter, as a result of the 1990 census.

    "Last time we were eligible and then some. We had room to spare," Herzik said. "I think it's going to be that way again."

    The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0350.

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    Robert A. wrote on December 28, 2007 12:24 AM:
    Vegas has been home to me for more than 24 years. It is a great place however many people are changing things for a negative.

    1. Pat Shalmy at Nevada Power has taken a power rate that was among one of the lowest in the country and made it among the highest. The PUC always just sides with him when he wants rate hikes as if they were on his payroll and many think they are in bed together. Even the resort association no longer backs him from what I understand for his , well lets just say lack to manage things in a amicable way for the community.

    2.The unions used to be strong organizations , but most are now just fronts for contractors and corps to exploit workers for low wages- they have not kept pace and in the case of the unions like the plumbers union that employs a pre apprentice $8 an hour wage the last I heard - they have gone backwards.

    3. We are the 5th highest overall taxed state even without a income tax! It isn’t that I mind paying taxes, just see that most of it has gone to no good use. Police - we get more and more and still have one of the highest crime rates in the country - they are to busy eating for free in local establishments and giving hard working people traffic tickets for being 5 miles over the limit.

    4. Our University system is in the crapper and instead of seeking ways to improve it we have continuously just exploited the student- they are no longer willing to put up with it and enrolment is falling...


    mike wrote on December 27, 2007 09:34 PM: America took other countries rejects that couldn't hack in in their own country. How'd that turn out?


    GOD wrote on December 27, 2007 02:58 PM: Nevada takes the rest of the country's rejects... those that couldn't hack it in their own state.

    This leads to --
    No community, no education, no culture, high crime, high real estate, low education... WE'RE NUMBER 1!!

    Whoo hoo!


    Jake Rollins wrote on December 27, 2007 02:14 PM: So Roger wants high property values, good infrastructure, but doesn't want to pay for it. But also is vehemently against "illegals" ... I mean I can't disagree with you as a citizen. But people, we need to wake up here. There is way more going on than just some illegal aliens and a foreclosure issue.

    We are going to have to pay more in taxes, not just gaming, not just the business community, all of us. That is if we want decent infrastructure. We also are going to have to start paying attention and VOTING for people who are raving, right wing libertarians and/or total fools who only care about lining their pockets and making a name for themselves. We need more like Bruce Woodbury, Larry Brown, Bob Gibson, Dean Heller and less Erin Kenny, and Bob Beers.

    Draw a ring around the valley and stop growth ... great idea ... how can it be done without having insane consequences none of us want? Perhaps now is the time, precisely when there is a lull in the market. But try to bust that home builder lobby in Carson city.

    Last point ... neither Clark County, nor any of the local municipalities have home rule. So cow counties up north get to dictate how we in Southern, Nevada tax ourselves, how we spend, how we govern ourselves. We need home rule for every major local government in Southern Nevada!! We also need a legislature that is full time and professional and meets at least once a year, with FULLY TELEVISED sessions!!! If Clark County and the City of Las Vegas can do it, well darn it, so can the STATE OF NEVADA!!


    Ulno wrote on December 27, 2007 02:10 PM: I'm one who is planning on moving to Las Vegas in the coming year, I'm currently in the San Francisco area. Roger et al, you all should try moving to California, it's got all the infrastructure you want, as well as all the government taxes and control. Comparing a house in Summerlin and the 215 or 95 commute to a house in Oakland and the 880/580 commute is a laugh: I was commuting 3 hours a day in the Bay Area. My property taxes in the Bay Area now have so may additions that it's more like 2% than 1%. I can't remember the last time I had an English-speaking Doctor. Families have been moving out of here at such a pace that they closed down two schools near me. Before you bash Vegas, consider other areas. You have a wonderful place, with good economic growth, and good people. If you want big government, come to California. But leave Nevada to those that want freedom, liberty, and individual responsibility.


    me wrote on December 27, 2007 02:01 PM: What is clark county's homeless count on a BPC (Bums per corner) ratio?


    oldlawdawg wrote on December 27, 2007 01:10 PM: And now for the "good" news? Our growth is not a good thing when we cannot adequately employ,house,educate and assimilate too many of those who already live here. The statememnt that "That should be a big boost for jobs,and with jobs come population," is just plain nuts given past experience and the current state of the State. Perhaps that MIGHT be true if the new influx was stratified along economic and educational lines such that it could more easily assimilate into what we have to offer,but not if that influx is largely if unskilled laborers looking for jobs in the service industries that generate less tax revenues to support the children and such that come with them,even if all of them are properly documented residents (and if not,then the situation s worse still). Growth does NOT by any means equal prosperity,and could well mean just the opposite. I fear the day when politicans tell us the state MUST impose an income tax to assure that those earning service industry wages pay enough back into "the system" to support the services their presence demands of "the system." I do NOT wish to pay income taxes simply to support a growing "underclass" that does not earn enough to buy houses of the kinds of goods that generate sales tax and other revenues needed to fund the programns that support them. It is not a matter oc "Christian charity" or "the American Dream" or racism or whatever,but rather the simple fact that I cannot afford to pay for them when I am middle-aged and already working my butt off to save for a home,retirement,etc. I will never understand those people who believe that those of us who have worked hard to improve our lot should pay the greatest share of the burden.


    Herb wrote on December 27, 2007 12:49 PM: I bet not a single one of these people moving here has any awareness that Nevada currently has the 9th HIGHEST unemployment rate in the country.


    gl wrote on December 27, 2007 11:34 AM: How many of the new residents are illegals? Have good paying jobs? With all these new people coming to Nevada, I guess we have no need to raise our taxes then. But, Roger your right we don't need anymore people moving down here for now. The city and the county need to play catch up. Let's see 2 million in Clark, and 500,000 in the rest of the state. Doesn't seem fair. Reno and Elko, no funds for you.


    Roger wrote on December 27, 2007 09:12 AM: What a bunch of propaganda! Vegas growth has almost stopped due to the forclosure crisis. It is a different story from July! These numbers are based on the past. Vegas is no longer appealing to move to. Roads are too crowded, the doctors that are in Vegas are of very poor quality and there are too few of them. Hospital quality is so low, that many people die due to error and neglect. Schools are overcrowded and teachers are few. Crime is worse than ever with not enough cops.

    Do not move to Vegas if you want your family to have a good quality of life. It's hard to find a well built home there and it will get worse...


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