Iowa population tops 3 million for first time
Slow growth could cost Iowa a congressional seat
By Ed TibbettsLee Enterprises | Posted: Tuesday, December 23, 2008
{M3For the first time, Iowa’s population topped 3 million people, according to new government estimates.
The state still is one of the slowest growing in the country, however, and is slated to lose a congressional seat after the 2010 Census.
The U.S. Census Bureau issued new estimates Monday for state populations, and Iowa’s stood at 3,002,555, as of last July.
“This is as high as it’s ever been counted or estimated,” said Beth Henning, the coordinator of the State Data Center of Iowa.
The count is about 19,000 people more than it was the year before, according to the estimates.
Iowa’s population has been inching toward the 3 million mark for the past several years, so topping 3 million isn’t a big surprise to demographers. Still, for a state that has struggled for decades to hold the line against faster-growing states, it’s somewhat of an achievement.
Iowa’s population has grown by 76,000 people, or about 2.6 percent, since the 2000 Census.
That puts its growth rate 43rd out of 50 states.
As a result, Iowa still is on a track to lose one of its five congressional seats, according to Election Data Services Inc., a Virginia-based political consulting firm that specializes in redistricting.
“All five of our projection models taking us up to 2010 keep it at minus one,” said Kimball Brace, president of the company.
Utah was the fastest growing state, knocking Nevada from the top ranks. Utah's population climbed by 2.5 percent from July 2007 to July 2008. It was followed by Arizona, Texas, North Carolina and Colorado. Nevada was ranked eighth, after 23 years of ranking in the top four each year.
Nevada was listed as the fastest growing state a year ago when the 2007 estimates were released. But adjustments to the 2007 numbers, released Monday, show that Utah was the fastest growing state in 2007 and Nevada was ranked third.
Only two states -- Michigan and Rhode Island -- lost population from 2007 to 2008, according to the new estimates. But growth rates fell in many states, even for those that had been adding residents at a rapid clip.
After the 2010 Census, the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be reapportioned, and it appears Southern and Western states stand to gain. Texas is looking at the possibility of gaining four seats, according to Election Data Services.
In addition to Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Louisiana are facing the loss of seats in 2010.
Illinois is facing the loss of a seat, too. The Census Bureau estimated Monday that Illinois’ population grew to 12,901,563 this year, up 3.9 percent from 2000. The state added 76,000 people between 2007 and 2008.
Illinois currently has 19 congressional seats.
There were a couple of changes to Iowa’s population in the past year or two that also are noteworthy, according to the latest data.
The movement of foreign immigrants to Iowa has slowed during the past couple of years. In 2007 and 2008, a net of about 3,800 people per year came to the state from foreign countries. That’s a small decline from the 4,200 to 4,400 a year who were coming here in the four previous years.
Also, there was a one-year shift in the number of people who moved to Iowa from other states, according to the new data. In 2008, Iowa gained a net of about 400 people from other states, according to the new estimates. The year before, Iowa lost a net 2,500 people to other states.
The most recent data are not broken down by county or city. New census data will be released in March for counties and in June for cities.
Year-to-year estimates should be viewed with some caution, demographers say.
Since the start of the decade, Iowa has lost close to 6,000 people per year. That has slowed in recent years.
Iowa also has seen growth in what’s called natural increase, or the number of births over deaths, according to the latest estimates. In 2007 and 2008, natural increase per year has been more than 14,000.
Previously, the number of births over deaths in Iowa ranged from 10,000 to 13,000 a year.
Staff writer Michele Linck and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Table A. Leading 10 States/Equivalents by Population Change: July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008
Top 5 Fastest-Growing Top 5 Numeric Gainers
State Percent
Change State Change
1. Utah 2.5 1. Texas 483,542
2. Arizona 2.3 2. California 379,132
3. Texas 2.0 3. North Carolina 180,820
4. North Carolina 2.0 4. Georgia 162,447
5. Colorado 2.0 5. Arizona 146,759
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
The state still is one of the slowest growing in the country, however, and is slated to lose a congressional seat after the 2010 Census.
The U.S. Census Bureau issued new estimates Monday for state populations, and Iowa’s stood at 3,002,555, as of last July.
“This is as high as it’s ever been counted or estimated,” said Beth Henning, the coordinator of the State Data Center of Iowa.
The count is about 19,000 people more than it was the year before, according to the estimates.
Iowa’s population has been inching toward the 3 million mark for the past several years, so topping 3 million isn’t a big surprise to demographers. Still, for a state that has struggled for decades to hold the line against faster-growing states, it’s somewhat of an achievement.
Iowa’s population has grown by 76,000 people, or about 2.6 percent, since the 2000 Census.
That puts its growth rate 43rd out of 50 states.
As a result, Iowa still is on a track to lose one of its five congressional seats, according to Election Data Services Inc., a Virginia-based political consulting firm that specializes in redistricting.
“All five of our projection models taking us up to 2010 keep it at minus one,” said Kimball Brace, president of the company.
Utah was the fastest growing state, knocking Nevada from the top ranks. Utah's population climbed by 2.5 percent from July 2007 to July 2008. It was followed by Arizona, Texas, North Carolina and Colorado. Nevada was ranked eighth, after 23 years of ranking in the top four each year.
Nevada was listed as the fastest growing state a year ago when the 2007 estimates were released. But adjustments to the 2007 numbers, released Monday, show that Utah was the fastest growing state in 2007 and Nevada was ranked third.
Only two states -- Michigan and Rhode Island -- lost population from 2007 to 2008, according to the new estimates. But growth rates fell in many states, even for those that had been adding residents at a rapid clip.
After the 2010 Census, the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be reapportioned, and it appears Southern and Western states stand to gain. Texas is looking at the possibility of gaining four seats, according to Election Data Services.
In addition to Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Louisiana are facing the loss of seats in 2010.
Illinois is facing the loss of a seat, too. The Census Bureau estimated Monday that Illinois’ population grew to 12,901,563 this year, up 3.9 percent from 2000. The state added 76,000 people between 2007 and 2008.
Illinois currently has 19 congressional seats.
There were a couple of changes to Iowa’s population in the past year or two that also are noteworthy, according to the latest data.
The movement of foreign immigrants to Iowa has slowed during the past couple of years. In 2007 and 2008, a net of about 3,800 people per year came to the state from foreign countries. That’s a small decline from the 4,200 to 4,400 a year who were coming here in the four previous years.
Also, there was a one-year shift in the number of people who moved to Iowa from other states, according to the new data. In 2008, Iowa gained a net of about 400 people from other states, according to the new estimates. The year before, Iowa lost a net 2,500 people to other states.
The most recent data are not broken down by county or city. New census data will be released in March for counties and in June for cities.
Year-to-year estimates should be viewed with some caution, demographers say.
Since the start of the decade, Iowa has lost close to 6,000 people per year. That has slowed in recent years.
Iowa also has seen growth in what’s called natural increase, or the number of births over deaths, according to the latest estimates. In 2007 and 2008, natural increase per year has been more than 14,000.
Previously, the number of births over deaths in Iowa ranged from 10,000 to 13,000 a year.
Staff writer Michele Linck and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Table A. Leading 10 States/Equivalents by Population Change: July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008
Top 5 Fastest-Growing Top 5 Numeric Gainers
State Percent
Change State Change
1. Utah 2.5 1. Texas 483,542
2. Arizona 2.3 2. California 379,132
3. Texas 2.0 3. North Carolina 180,820
4. North Carolina 2.0 4. Georgia 162,447
5. Colorado 2.0 5. Arizona 146,759
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 1 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
Grant wrote on Dec 23, 2008 7:40 AM: