U.S. Population Nears 300 Million

Immigration and a high birth rate among Hispanics — the largest minority group in the country —helped boost the American population by 2.8 million in the 12-month period ended July 1. If that pace of growth keeps up, predicts John Haaga of the Population Reference Bureau, there could be 300 million people living in the United States within the next four years.



The nation's southern and western regions welcomed the most new residents for the study period, with Nevada adding more people than anywhere else in the country. In fact, Nevada has been the fastest-growing state for 17 years now, thanks — according to Brookings Institution demographer William Frey — to its climate, recreation and more affordable housing. Also among the fastest-growing states were Arizona, Florida, Texas, Idaho, California, Delaware and Hawaii