US Census population estimates for Oregon and other states, 2014 (Portland: real estate, 2015)

[tablemtn]

The annual estimates were released today:

US Census Population Estimates - State totals 2014

The new estimated Oregon population for July 2014 is 3,970,239 - an increase of 42,171 from the July 2013 estimate of 3,928,068. Oregon's population is estimated to have grown slightly faster from mid-2013 to mid-2014 than it did from mid-2012 to mid-2013. 2013 was a gain of 29,384 over 2012. The 2010 Census number was 3,831,074, which means the estimated gain four years into the decade is 139,165, or 3.6%.

That's slower than the growth rate from 2000 to 2010, but it is actually faster than the national average of 3.3% - still a bit unusual for a state historically known as insular and kind of sluggish compared to rest of the country. If the growth rate stays about the same, Oregon will pass 4 million residents sometime in late spring of 2015, becoming the 27th state to have done so (the next state up the list at #26 is Kentucky, with slightly more than 4.4 million residents, and state #28 is Oklahoma, at 3.878 million).

To put this in historical context, Oregon's first census in 1850 reported 12,093 residents (though that left out a lot of the native population). Oregon crossed the 50,000 mark sometime around 1859, the 100,000 mark circa 1871, 500,000 about 1903, 1 million around 1935, 2 million by 1968, 3 million around 1993, and now 4 million coming up in 2015.

As for Oregon's neighbors compared to Oregon...

Oregon: 3,970,239. +42,171 from 2013, a gain of 1.07%. 27th most-populous state in the US. #14-highest population gain in raw numbers; #13 in percentage terms.

Washington: 7,061,530. +87,778 from 2013, a gain of 1.26%. 13th. #7 numerical gain/#11 percentage.

California: 38,802,500. +371,107 from 2013, a gain of 0.97%. #1st. #2 numerical gain/#15 percentage.

Idaho: 1,634,464. +21,621 from 2013, a gain of 1.34%. #39th. #23 numerical gain/#9 percentage.

Nevada: 2,839,099. +47,605 from 2013, a gain of 1.71%. #35. #13 numerical gain/#2 percentage.

US as a whole: 318,857,056. +2,359,525 from 2013, a gain of 0.75%.

North Dakota (739,482, +15,625 / +2.16%) was the fastest-growing state of all, while Texas (26,956,958, +451,321 / 1.70%) saw the largest numerical increase.

The swiftest decline of all was in Puerto Rico (3,548,397, -47,442 / -1.32%). Among the 50 states, it was in West Virginia (1,850,326, -3,269 / -0.18%).

The pre-2010 Census estimates were more accurate for some states than others. They were reasonably good for Oregon, though.

[redguard57]

I'll be really upset if Oklahoma eclipses Oregon. I can't stand Oklahoma.

Surprised Nevada's growth has been so strong given the severity of their housing bust a few years ago.

[ccjarider]

Originally Posted by redguard57

I'll be really upset if Oklahoma eclipses Oregon. I can't stand Oklahoma.

Why on earth would that "upset" you? I find that comment really weird.

[V8 Vega]

I was just in Beaverton and Portland and I saw no houses being built. In southern Calif. there constantly building houses, especally in the outlying areas from LA because theres no land to build on in Los Angeles. We have had years of drought and they are constantly telling us to save, conserve water but theres apparently plenty of water when it comes to building houses.

Originally Posted by V8 Vega

I was just in Beaverton and Portland and I saw no houses being built. In southern Calif. there constantly building houses, especally in the outlying areas from LA because theres no land to build on in Los Angeles. We have had years of drought and they are constantly telling us to save, conserve water but theres apparently plenty of water when it comes to building houses.

Look harder. There's tons of construction north of 26.

Also lots of housing (though not single family) being built in/near downtown Portland. There's a new building going up a block from where I live, and the place I live was only finished a year or so ago.

[Squidlo]

Originally Posted by redguard57

I'll be really upset if Oklahoma eclipses Oregon. I can't stand Oklahoma.

Surprised Nevada's growth has been so strong given the severity of their housing bust a few years ago.

I will be impressed when the state of Oregon catches up with Harris County Texas. Harris County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

While Texas is considered among the kings of sprawl, Harris county manages the population of Oregon and them some into a smaller geographical area. Still plenty of wild spaces left over for those of us who enjoy a little time in the woods.

Nothing as nice as Multnomah Falls, the beaches with the exception of South Padre don't measure up to Oregon's. It will hold me until I retire (probably in Oregon)

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by redguard57

I'll be really upset if Oklahoma eclipses Oregon. I can't stand Oklahoma.......

Not me. Hey all you people who are thinking about moving to Oregon, take a look at Oklahoma. You'll like it a lot. Real estate is cheaper. There are jobs. It's a pretty state. People are nice. Move to Oklahoma.

[Larry Caldwell]

When I graduated from high school there were 1.8 million people in Oregon. We knew freedom. We could do things that are illegal nowadays. The more crowded things get the worse our quality of life becomes. Population growth is not a good thing.

[Squidlo]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

When I graduated from high school there were 1.8 million people in Oregon. We knew freedom. We could do things that are illegal nowadays. The more crowded things get the worse our quality of life becomes. Population growth is not a good thing.

ding ding ding! We have a winner! Larry you have summed it up for me. Regardless of where Tom McCall was born, perhaps he was right?

[bler144]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

Not me. Hey all you people who are thinking about moving to Oregon, take a look at Oklahoma. You'll like it a lot. Real estate is cheaper. There are jobs. It's a pretty state. People are nice. Move to Oklahoma.

Eh, I'm not a fan of that kind of heat. And center/western OK are generally pretty flat and unremarkable.

Eastern OK...maybe.