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Montana 14th in Population Growth; Texas the “Big Winner”

By Beacon Staff

The U.S. Census Bureau released new population estimates Monday. And from what I can gather, between July 2007 and July 2008, Montana was tied with South Dakota and Tennessee in population growth among states. In that time, according to the Census, Montana grew by 1.1 percent.

Over the last year, Utah’s population grew the fastest (2.5 percent); followed by Arizona (2.3 percent); and Colorado, North Carolina and Texas were each tied at 2 percent. Nevada, which has often reigned as the fastest-growing state, fell all the way down to the eighth spot.

What’s even more interesting, to me anyway, is how the population estimates could affect Congress. From USA Today’s story:

Eight states — most in the Northeast and Midwest — would lose seats in Congress in 2010, based on an analysis of Census estimates of 2008 state populations released today.

Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania each would lose a seat, according to an analysis by Election Data Services, Inc.

Five states — Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Utah — would each gain one seat. Texas would be the big winner, adding three seats.

The 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are reallocated every 10 years after the decennial Census counts state populations. The analysis uses annual estimates to project changes in 2010.

It doesn’t appear that Montana is in line for additional representation.