Florida's population increased by 1.1 percent to 18.3 million as of July 2007. The previous year the rate of increase was 1.8 percent.

"If there's one state that's a little surprising, I would say it's Florida," said Greg Harper, a demographer with the bureau.

Texas, meanwhile, had the seventh-fastest growth by percentage and tops numerically, having drawn about 500,000 new residents.

California remains the nation's most populous state with about 37 million people. It attracted about 300,000 new residents, second to Texas numerically but 25th fastest by rate of growth, the same ranking as last year.

Only two states lost population. Michigan's population dipped by three-tenths of a percent and Rhode Island saw a decrease of four-tenths of a percent. Ohio's growth was virtually flat.

The total U.S. population was estimated at 301.6 million last July 1.

Earlier this week, urban planning consultancy firm GCR & Associates estimated New Orleans' population at 300,000, or about 65 percent of its pre-Hurricane Katrina size, which was around 455,000.

GCR chief executive and New Orleans native Greg Rigamer said people have been coming back to the city at a rate of 3,000 to 4,000 per month, which includes in-state migration. Things are looking up, but the city still suffers from failing infrastructure, poor health care and educational services and a "horrific" criminal justice problem.

"Things are not all well in New Orleans," he said. "They are clearly getting better. It's no time to be popping the champagne corks."

The Constitution requires the Census Bureau to count the population every 10 years. The results are used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as electoral votes.

This year's state population estimates are consistent with previous years that show high-growth states like Texas will likely gain seats in Congress, while slow-growth states such as Ohio will likely lose seats.

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Contributing: Associated Press
E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com