growth, state by state

From CNNMoney.com A look at the population of each state in 2006 and the population change that occurred from 2005. Fascinating stuff, I didn't realize that there are entire states with populations of less than 1 million, and in fact there are 7 of them. Or that Idaho is the 3rd fastest growing state, Idaho, or that 579,275 people moved to Texas in one year, that's more people than the entire population of Wyoming. But the big story here is Arizona, now the fastest growing state in the nation. William Frey, a demographer with the Brookings Institution in Washington noted, Arizona’s in-migration is visible at motor vehicle offices. In 2005, 117,500 people surrendered California driver’s licenses, with Illinois licenses a distant second with 23,200, followed by Texas with 22,800.“Arizona used to be merely a retirement magnet for Midwest seniors,” Mr. Frey said. “Now it’s also a front door for immigrants from Mexico and an escape hatch for Californians seeking affordable housing. Add the retiree population, which will be soon bubbling with baby boomers, and you have America’s demographic success story — or nightmare, depending on how you see the challenges of rapid growth.” From CNNMoney.com, Growth states: Arizona overtakes Nevada State                  2006      2005     Change  %

Arizona	6,166,318	5,953,007	213,311	3.58%
Nevada	2,495,529	2,412,301	83,228	3.45%
Idaho	1,466,465	1,429,367	37,098	2.60%
Georgia	9,363,941	9,132,553	231,388	2.53%
Texas	23,507,783	22,928,508	579,275	2.53%
Utah	2,550,063	2,490,334	59,729	2.40%
North Carolina	8,856,505	8,672,459	184,046	2.12%
Colorado	4,753,377	4,663,295	90,082	1.93%
Florida	18,089,888	17,768,191	321,697	1.81%
South Carolina	4,321,249	4,246,933	74,316	1.75%
Oregon	3,700,758	3,638,871	61,887	1.70%
Washington	6,395,798	6,291,899	103,899	1.65%
New Mexico	1,954,599	1,925,985	28,614	1.49%
Delaware	853,476	841,741	11,735	1.39%
Tennessee	6,038,803	5,955,745	83,058	1.39%
Arkansas	2,810,872	2,775,708	35,164	1.27%
Wyoming	515,004	508,798	6,206	1.22%
Alabama	4,599,030	4,548,327	50,703	1.11%
Montana	944,632	934,737	9,895	1.06%
Virginia	7,642,884	7,564,327	78,557	1.04%
Alaska	670,053	663,253	6,800	1.03%
Oklahoma	3,579,212	3,543,442	35,770	1.01%
Hawaii	1,285,498	1,273,278	12,220	0.96%
South Dakota	781,919	774,883	7,036	0.91%
California	36,457,549	36,154,147	303,402	0.84%
Kentucky	4,206,074	4,172,608	33,466	0.80%
Minnesota	5,167,101	5,126,739	40,362	0.79%
Missouri	5,842,713	5,797,703	45,010	0.78%
Indiana	6,313,520	6,266,019	47,501	0.76%
New Hampshire	1,314,895	1,306,819	8,076	0.62%
Kansas	2,764,075	2,748,172	15,903	0.58%
Nebraska	1,768,331	1,758,163	10,168	0.58%
Iowa	2,982,085	2,965,524	16,561	0.56%
Wisconsin	5,556,506	5,527,644	28,862	0.52%
Illinois	12,831,970	12,765,427	66,543	0.52%
Maryland	5,615,727	5,589,599	26,128	0.47%
Pennsylvania	12,440,621	12,405,348	35,273	0.28%
New Jersey	8,724,560	8,703,150	21,410	0.25%
Maine	1,321,574	1,318,220	3,354	0.25%
West Virginia	1,818,470	1,814,083	4,387	0.24%
Vermont	623,908	622,387	1,521	0.24%
North Dakota	635,867	634,605	1,262	0.20%
Connecticut	3,504,809	3,500,701	4,108	0.12%
Mississippi	2,910,540	2,908,496	2,044	0.07%
Massachusetts	6,437,193	6,433,367	3,826	0.06%
Ohio	11,478,006	11,470,685	7,321	0.06%
New York	19,306,183	19,315,721	-9,538	-0.05%
Michigan	10,095,643	10,100,833	-5,190	-0.05%
District of Columbia	581,530	582,049	-519	-0.09%
Rhode Island	1,067,610	1,073,579	-5,969	-0.56%
Louisiana	4,287,768	4,507,331	-219,563	-4.87%