60 million Californians by 2050

LOS ANGELES, July 10 (UPI) -- California's population is projected to grow by nearly 75 percent during the next half-century to nearly 60 million people.

Riverside County will outgrow its bigger neighbors, Orange and San Diego counties, to become the second most populated county after Los Angeles, said projections released Monday by the California Department of Finance.

Latinos are projected to become the dominant ethnic group, eclipsing all others combined, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

The explosive growth projections raise questions about how California will function and whether all the people and their cars will be housed in continuing sprawl or in more dense, high-rise development, the Times reported.

Some planners forecast gridlock and environmental disaster while others see a possible economic boon.

"It's opportunity with baggage in a country masquerading as a state," said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.