Idaho ranks No. 4 in population growth

The Northwest remains one of the fastest-growing regions of the country with Idaho ranked fourth in its annual rate of growth and Washington ranked 12th.

New population estimates released today by the Census Bureau show that Washington grew by an estimated 93,500 people in the 12 months ending July 1. Only seven other states added more people.

Washington’s population was estimated at 6.46 million, a 1.5 percent increase since July 1, 2006.

Idaho has about 1.5 million residents, the government estimated. That’s up 2.4 percent.

Nevada regained the title of fastest-growing state, having grown to 2.6 million. Nevada had held that title for 19 years in a row before being bumped off by Arizona last year.

Michigan and Rhode Island saw a slight drop in population, and Ohio’s growth was virtually flat.

And Louisiana, which fell by a quarter-million people after Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans in August 2005, saw a net increase of about 50,000 people, a 1.2 percent increase. The state has an estimated 4.3 million people.

The Census Bureau 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 bureau estimates a net increase of 29,000 people moving into the state from other states, accounting for more than half the jump.

California remains the nation’s most populous state with about 37 million people.

It gained about 300,000 new residents, second to Texas numerically but 25th fastest by rate of growth, the same ranking as last year.

The total U.S. population was estimated at 301.6 million last July 1.

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