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Population Growth in California Slows

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Since 2000, California has grown 14.6 percent, by nearly 5 million residents. But for the past six years, California has lost residents to other states, the Associated Press reported.

"But fewer people moved out of California this year than the year before, most likely because the economy is hurting elsewhere, too, said Mary Heim, chief of the California's demographic research unit.

"Things are not good any place," Heim said. "Moving is an expensive proposition, so I think people are just settling in."

Three of California's 58 counties had more people moving out than in during the last fiscal year: Kings, Los Angeles and Madera. The biggest population increases, due mostly to more births, were in Riverside and Placer counties, each growing more than 1.5 percent.

But even with more newborns, the Department of Finance said the state's fertility rate is below replacement level – meaning Californians are not having enough babies to replace themselves as they age.

Currently, 11.3 percent of the state's population is age 65 or older. By 2050, seniors will represent nearly one in five Californians, the department said.

The number of residents in each county ranges from 1,186 in Alpine to nearly 10.5 million in Los Angeles. Seven out of 10 Californians live in the nine largest counties: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento and Contra Costa.

The estimates are based on various state records – including birth, death, driver's licenses and housing – and will be revised when 2010 census data is released next year.

 
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