Census Tales

The state today lowered last year's population estimate -- to 37.4 million people -- in light of 2010 U.S. Census data.

That means California grew a meager 0.79% between July of 2009 and July of 2010, among the slowest growth years on record. (Some of the other years with low growth rates were also this past decade.)

State demographers had expected fewer people to come to California because of the foul economy, but they hadn't realized just how few. Population projections for the coming years and decades are also likely to be adjusted downward.

Most of the state's growth between 2009 and 2010 was due to births (outpacing deaths by 283,799).

The number of people moving to California, meanwhile, was only 9,592 more than the number moving away. Foreign immigration netted about 139,000 of those moves while domestic migration netted a negative 129,000 moves.

Fresno, Tulare and Kings counties, as might be expected, saw among the state's highest growth rates.

Fresno County grew 1.27% between July of 2009 and July of 2010, to 935,621 residents. Tulare County grew 1.29%, to 444,082. Kings County grew 1.22%, to 153,640.

The new population estimates come as revisions to figures released last year.

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Update: Residents of the central San Joaquin Valley are much younger than the rest of the state.

California's median age is 35.2 years, according to newly released 2010 Census data, while Fresno, Tulare and Kings counties average more than four years younger.

Tulare County, with a median age of 29.6 years, is the state's youngest county. The cities of San Joaquin and Orange Cove, both with a median age of 23.6 years, rank second statewide as the youngest cities. Twentynine Palms is the youngest, at 23.5 years.

Demographers attribute the region's youth to the large Latino population, which tends to have more children, as well as the low cost of living, which attracts young families.

Statewide, the median age jumped almost two years over the past decade, owing to the aging of Baby Boomers.

"In some ways California is a very young state," said Hans Johnson, a demographer with the California Public Policy Institute. "If it weren't for the flow of a young immigrant population, we would have aged even more."

Original post: We'll be writing on newly released 2010 Census data this weekend. In the meantime, here are some highlights.

In California, half the population is older than 35, the other half younger. The state's median age of 35.2 jumped from 33.2 in 2000. It's likely an all-time high, reflecting the aging of Baby Boomers. Expect the national Medicare debate to heat up.

Continue reading "Valley's residents much younger than rest of California" »

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