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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans are still heading West, and Utah and Idaho are among the hot spots.
The latest numbers from the Census Bureau show Western states gaining population, as people look for areas that are open, affordable and offer more recreation.
Nevada saw the biggest population increase for the 18th year in a row. But Utah and Idaho also made the top ten.
The Census estimates that Utah gained nearly 37-thousand people in the last year. The Census now puts Utah's population at two-(M)-million-389-thousand people.
Idaho gained just over 26-thousand residents, the Census bureau says, putting the state's population at one-(M)-million-393-thousand residents.
Only one state, Massachusetts, saw a population decline -- and even that was just a fractional one-tenth of one percent loss.
Overall, the U-S gained three (m) million people in the last year, for a total population just shy of 294 (m) million.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
