Texas Leads U.S. in Population Growth Since Recession Began

More Americans have moved to Texas since the recession began in 2008 than any other state, according to a new estimate released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Lone Star State's population grew by 478,000 in the 12-month period from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2009, putting it well ahead of California, which saw 381,000 new residents, and North Carolina, which picked up 134,000.

"Let's be clear: Texas is having a recession like the rest of country, but it's not as bad," Southern Methodist University economist Bernard Weinstein told Bloomberg News. "Texas is going to pop up on a lot of radar screens as a place to relocate or expand for businesses."

The second most populous state in the country with a population of 24.8 million, Texas has led the nation in various growth indicators for much of the past decade. Even after the recession began, its unemployment rate has remained at least 1 percent below the national average, according to the Census Bureau and the Pew Research Center. Texas also created more jobs than any other state in October and November, polishing its growing reputation as the best place to escape economic hard times.

The Census Bureau estimate was generated using birth, death, and administrative records, and is a precursor to the federal census to take place next year. The findings also noted that population growth slowed across the once-booming Sun Belt.

Only three states saw their populations shrink in the same 12-month period: Michigan (0.33 percent), Maine (0.11 percent) and Rhode Island (0.03 percent).