Western states growing as northeastern ones decline

The Hill - The yearly population estimates show Utah is growing at a faster rate than any other state in the nation. Between July 2015 and July 2016, the Beehive State added 61,000 new residents, a growth rate of 2.03 percent, the Census Bureau said. Utah's population crossed the 3 million mark for the first time.

Eight of the 10 fastest-growing states in America are in the Mountain West or the West Coast, including Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona and Texas. Florida and South Carolina, both Sun Belt states, were the fourth- and 10th-fastest growing states in America, respectively.

The District of Columbia added 11,000 new residents in the past year, or 1.6 percent, which would make it the ninth-fastest growing state.

Eight states saw their populations decline over the last year, most of which are Northeastern and Rust Belt states that have suffered long-term declines in manufacturing, commodity and industrial jobs.