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By Eileen McGuire-Mahony Ballotpedia
WASHINGTON, D.C – As of April 1, 2010, the official, enumerated population of the United States is 308,745,538.
This represents 9.7 percent population growth since 2000, confirming expert predictions that U.S. population growth would prove to have slowed.
The other major report of the morning was the reapportionment of congressional seats, the reason that gives the Census its Constitutional mandate.
In all, there are 12 seats, affecting 18 states, that will be shifted. Eight states, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Washington will gain seats. Texas makes the biggest overall gains, picking up four seats. This marks the seventh consecutive decade when the Lone Star State has gained Congressional Districts. Florida, gaining two seats, is America’s other state to pick up multiple seats.
Ten states, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, will lose seats. Of those, New York and Ohio are each giving up two; the other states, one.
Beginning with the 2012 elections, the average population of a House District will be 710,767, up from 646,952 in 2000. The number of House seats, at 435, will remain steady. Increasing the total seats in the House is a Congressional matter, and the Census Bureau plays no role should the House decide to grow its size.
