Texas Population: Change in Size, Composition, and Distribution, 2000- 2008

Texas is among the most rapidly growing states in the United States. In this paper we examine the change in size, composition, and distribution of Texas population from 2000-2008. Texas population increased from 20,851,820 in 2000 to 24,326,974 in 2008. This is an increase of 3,475,154 persons between April 1, 2000 and July 1, 2008, leading the nation in numerical increase. The increase of 3,475,154 persons during the 2000-2008 time period was equivalent to the total 2008 estimated population of Wyoming (532,668), District of Columbia (591,833), Vermont (621,270), North Da- kota (641,481), Alaska (686,293), and South Dakota (804,194). Texas' population also diversified extensively; the pro- portion of Anglo (non-Hispanic White) population has decreased from 60.7 percent in 1990 to 46.6 percent in 2008. The proportion of Hispanic population (Hispanics of any race) has increased from 25.5 percent in 1990 to 37.5 percent in 2008. In 2008, more than fifty-three percent of Texans were minorities (i.e., Black, Hispanic, and Others). However, population growth has not been distributed evenly throughout the State. Some parts of the State have grown rapidly, some have grown slowly and others have declined. It is impossible to predict future patterns of population growth with absolute accuracy, but the fact that more than 54 percent of the population growth is due to natural increase suggests that popula- tion growth will likely continue, even if the rate of growth slows from that observed in the past few years. Texas may thus be expected to remain among those states with the largest numerical increase in population and to continue to be among the Nation's growing states in the coming years.