North Dakota is Nation's Fastest-Growing State Since 2011

[jsr]

http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb12-250.html

North Dakota is Nation's Fastest-Growing State Since 2011

North Dakota's total population climbed by 2.17 percent between July 1, 2011, and July 1, 2012. This is the fastest growth of any state, and nearly three times faster than the nation as a whole, according to Census Bureau state population estimates released today...

Following North Dakota in terms of percent increase over the same period were the District of Columbia (2.15 percent), Texas (1.67 percent), Wyoming (1.60 percent), Utah (1.45 percent) and Nevada (1.43 percent). North Dakota ranked only 37th in growth between the 2000 and 2010 censuses and climbed to sixth between 2010 and 2011. Each of the 10 fastest-growing states were in the South or West with the exception of North Dakota and South Dakota.

The United States as a whole saw its population increase by 2.3 million from 2011 to 2012, to 313.9 million, for a growth rate of 0.75 percent. Texas gained more people than any other state in the year ending July 1 (427,400), followed by California (357,500), Florida (235,300), Georgia (107,500) and North Carolina (101,000). These five states combined accounted for more than half of the nation's total population growth. In addition to 50 states and the District of Columbia, the release also includes estimates for Puerto Rico.

California remained the most populous state, with a July 1 population of 38.0 million. Rounding out the top five states were Texas (26.1 million), New York (19.6 million), Florida (19.3 million) and Illinois (12.9 million). ...

[erpowers]

1. Oil Boom?

It seems this may be due to the oil boom taking place in North Dakota. A number of people are going to the state to get jobs. As a result of these people seeking jobs others go there in order to provide the workers with the services, like food and housing, they need.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. Heard on NPR the other day: Williston ND rents = $2500/mo for apt.

[Rozlee]

3. Say what!!!!

My sister and her husband rented a nice double wide in Laramie on acreage for $125 in 1979. Don't know how far that is from Williston, but, lordy, I hope that's not a closet-sized NYC apt, plus I don't know if the Grand Forks AFB area is where the oil boom is at.

[msongs]

4. according to craiglist ads that $2500 is an outlier

http://nd.craigslist.org/apa/

[DFW]

5. Much of it is due to fracking

I hope it's not the main reason. The environmental consequences will not be pretty down the road if it's so.

[Odin2005]

6. It's an unsustainable Fracking bubble

When all the gas is extracted the people will leave and Western NoDak will be left a polluted wasteland.