U.S. Population Growth Slows, Census Shows

The U.S. population grew at the slowest rate of the decade this year, increasing only 0.86 percent, according to the Census Bureau's new state population estimates, released today.

Several states that normally experience population growth reported very low growth rates, signaling that migration in the United States has slowed significantly. In Florida and Nevada, more people moved away than moved in, though both states still experienced population increases due to births, reports USA Today.

Texas gained the most new residents with an increase of 478,000 new people. The growth may allow the state to gain three seats in the House of Representatives after the official 2010 Census.

Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington may also each gain one seat while Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania may all lose one. Ohio could lose two seats.

The only three states to see a decrease in population were Michigan, Maine and Rhode Island.