CENSUS 2010: A New Milestone and Measure of Shifting Population Trends

The official 2010 census has been released on December 21, 2010. Total U.S. population, according to the census, now stands at 308,745,538, or approximately 308.7 million, up 9.7% over the past decade--the slowest growth since the Great Depression. U.S. population stood: 92.2 million in 1910 (up 21%), 106.0 million in 1920 (up 15%), 123.2 million in 1930 (up 16.2%), 132.2 million in 1940 (up 7.3%), 151.3 million in 1950 (up 14.5%), 179.3 million in 1960 (up 18.5%), 203.2 million in 1970 (up 13.3%), 226.5 million in 1980 (up 11.5%), 248.7 million in 1990 (up 9.8%), 281.4 million in 2000 (up 13.2%) and 308.7 million in 2010 (up 9.7%). The census 2010 reveals the enhanced pace of population migration from the so-called rust belt and northeast to south and west. At issue is the basis for distribution of $400 billion per year federal funding. Figures released on December 21 show a torrid growth rate of 20.6% in Texas fueled by the burgeoning Hispanic population. According to 2010 census, Texas population now stands at 25,145,561. Texas has increased the number of House of Representative seats from 18 in 1910 to 36 in 2010, a net addition of 4 since the last census. The House has had 435 seats since 1910, and Texas has added in every reapportionment.