Fastest Growing States ~ Arizona #1

The numbers are in, and Arizona has for the first time in 19 years beat out Nevada as the fastest growing state in the country - at least in percentages. Arizona’s population increased by 3.6% during the period from July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006. But before we start high-fiving each other, it's worth noting that according to recent U. S. Census Bureau data, Arizona edged out the "Gambling State" by only .1%, with Nevada coming in at a 3.5% increase for the same period.

In terms of live human beings, however, Arizona ranked 5th in the nation ~ with a net increase in new residents of 213,311.

The most notable change was in Louisiana, with the state losing about 220,000 residents, or almost 5% of its pre-Katrina population!

In case you wanna see how the top ten stack up, here they are:

Top 10 Highest Percentage Growth Rate:

1. Arizona: 3.6%
2. Nevada: 3.5%
3. Idaho: 2.6%
4. Georgia: 2.5%
5. Texas: 2.5%
6. Utah: 2.4%
7. North Carolina: 2.1%
8. Colorado: 1.9%
9. Florida: 1.8%
10. South Carolina: 1.7%

Top 10 Actual Population Growth:

1. Texas: 579,275
2. Florida: 321,697
3. California: 303,402
4. Georgia: 231,388
5. Arizona: 213,311
6. North Carolina: 184,046
7. Washington: 103,899
8. Colorado: 90,082
9. Nevada: 83,228
10. Tennessee: 83,058