Florida becomes 3rd most populous state, edging out New York

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Florida gained 293,000 residents in the year that ended June 30, edging out New York as the third most populous state, the Census Bureau said Tuesday.

The Sunshine State now has a population estimated at 19.9 million people. New York State, which added 51,000 people, has 19.7 million.

California, with 38.8 million people and Texas with 27 million, remained at the top of the list. Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan were also on the top 10 list.

North Carolina moved ahead of Michigan to ninth place. Georgia, with 10.097 million residents, passed the 10-million mark.

Florida, which added 803 residents every day, was the sixth fastest growing state, while Texas was in third place. But North Dakota, which has been enjoying an oil boom, topped the list, with its population up by 2.16 percent.

Nevada, with a growth rate of 1.71 percent, trailed North Dakota. Colorado, the District of Columbia, Arizona, Utal, Idaho and South Carolina also had high growth rates.

The total U.S. population was 318.9 million at the end of the year, up by .75 percent.

Six states actually lost population during the year. They were Illinois, West Virginia, Connecticut, New Mexico, Alaska and Vermont.