8 States Poised to Lose House Seats: Census

Sun Belt boom may be ending
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 23, 2008 10:01 AM CST
8 States Poised to Lose House Seats: Census
The PGA National golf course in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., shown Thursday, May 17, 2007. For the first time in some 30 years, more people left Florida for other states than moved there.   (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

After a generation, the Sun Belt’s population boom may be ending, new Census data suggest. Over the year ending July 1, more people left Florida than moved there for the first time in some 30 years; after 23 years in the top four fastest-growing states, Nevada fell to eighth place, USA Today reports. Were a Congressional reallocation held today, eight states would lose a House seat.

Meanwhile, five states would gain a seat, and Texas would gain three. Michigan lost population for the fourth year in a row; births and immigration made Utah the fastest-growing state. At the center of the changing trends is the housing market, says an analyst. “One, you can't sell a house. You're stuck. Two, there's no job growth attracting people to those states.”
(More Sun Belt stories.)

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