Colorado Top Growth State – Could Gain New Congressperson

Colorado added 79,000 people last year, ranking fifth in new residents behind Texas (387,000), California (333,000), Florida (232,000) and North Carolina (100,000).

Projecting the population gains over the three years from the 2010 census to the 2013 estimate, Colorado should gain a seat in the U.S. House, going from seven to eight after the 2020 reapportionment.

Other winners are California (+1), Florida (+1), North Carolina (+1) and Texas (+3). Of course, growth rates change and several states’ population increases are close, but Colorado’s appears reasonably secure.

Even with slower population growth due to aging Baby Boomers, slow migration and immigration, and fewer children being born due to the economy, the latest census estimates confirm the general trend over several decades – the South, West and Atlantic Coast is gaining clout and the Northeast and upper Midwest losing population and House seats.